CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

National Lottery

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many lottery awards there were to organisations in the City of York constituency in each year since 1997; and what the average number of awards per constituency was in each year.

Richard Caborn: According to the National Lottery Awards Database, which is based upon the information provided by the Lottery distributers, the total number of Lottery awards made to the City of York, and the average number of awards per constituency made each year since 1997 is set out in the table:
	
		
			 Calendar year City of York constituency Average number of awards per constituency 
		
		
			 1997 27 21.3 
			 1998 16 13 
			 1999 31 30.5 
			 2000 37 36.8 
			 2001 48 30.2 
			 2002 32 37.1

Regional Cultural Consortiums

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the administrative costs of each regional cultural consortium were in each year since 1999–2000.

Richard Caborn: The information required is in the table.
	
		
			 Regionalculturalconsortium 1999–2000(1) 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03(2)  
		
		
			 Eastern 388 26,358 31,621 37,884 
			 East Midlands 857 34,366 15,927 18,063 
			 North East 1,355 41,855 32,415 36,614 
			 North West 230 21,995 42,890 36,503 
			 South East 968 20,229 36,929 40,915 
			 South West 4,823 33,609 22,043 34,061 
			 West Midlands 1,613 31,089 6,097 29,457 
			 Yorkshire 829 29,800 17,326 38,344 
		
	
	(1) The Regional Cultural Consortiums were established in October 1999
	(2) Expenditure calculated to 31 December 2002
	The Consortiums have also received support from staff based within the Government Offices in the regions. The Regional Development Agencies and the various regional cultural agencies have all been encouraged to help with funding and other means of support.
	The Consortiums use their resources to promote joint working by regional partners and to implement the Regional Cultural Strategies so that cultural and sporting interests make a significant contribution to economic development, regeneration and social inclusion in each region.

Sporting Events

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy that adoption of a code of practice on ethical trading on the lines of that developed for the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games should be a necessary pre-condition for Government endorsements of any bid to stage a major sporting event; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Government will make a clear assessment of the costs and benefits of hosting the biggest (mega) events such as the Olympic Games and Football's World cup prior to bidding.
	It is not policy to adopt a code of practice for ethical trading as a precondition to bid to stage a mega event. However any organisation set up to bid for or stage a mega event will be expected to follow the good practice learned from previous events such as the staging of the Commonwealth Games 2002.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the savings will be made in the Ministry of Defence's budget to fund the new aircraft carriers; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The new aircraft carriers have been an integral part of the Ministry of Defence's future spending plans since the Strategic Defence Review. There is thus no requirement to find any savings to accommodate this longstanding key capability.

Cluster Bombs

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cluster bombs are stockpiled by the Ministry of Defence, broken down by type.

Adam Ingram: Stockholdings of cluster bombs are held at an authorised war reserve stock figure. Details of the precise numbers of weapons could provide a potential adversary with information that could undermine our defence capabilities. I am therefore withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 1 (Defence, Security and International Relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Cluster Bombs

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which types of cluster munitions the UK armed forces possess.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom armed forces possess the following types of cluster munitions; the multiple lunch rocket system (MLRS), Shell 155 mm HE L20A1 extended range bomblet shell (ERBS), Shell 155 mm HE M483A1 and the BL755.

Cluster Bombs

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use by the RAF of cluster munitions.

Adam Ingram: Cluster bombs are one of a range of weapons systems available to the RAF, and are a legal weapon that fulfils a legitimate military role that cannot be performed by other means. Where the RAF has used cluster bombs, it has done so in a manner that is fully consistent with our obligations under international law.

Crisis Management

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what medium-term plans there are to give the EU military staff a planning capability for crisis-management operations; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: European Union member states agreed at Nice in 2000 that the EU Military staff would carry out strategic planning tasks, including
	"military aspects of strategic advance planning" for crisis management operations. This covers high-level consideration of options to support political/military decision-making, including particularly planning activities up to the point when the EU approves a military option. As part of the assured access to NATO planning capabilities agreed last year, the EU may call on NATO planning support for these activities.
	More detailed operational planning is not in the terms of reference of the EU Military staff. It was agreed at Nice that NATO's planning bodies will carry out operational planning for EU-led operations with recourse to NATO assets and capabilities. Operational planning for other operations would be carried out in existing European national and multinational headquarters, such as our own Permanent Joint Headquarters.
	There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Crisis Management

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether geographic limits will be set to politico-military action by the EU for crisis-management purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Currently there are no geographical limits set for crisis management operations which the European Union might conduct as part of the European Security and Defence Policy, although in practice distance would be one of a large number of factors which would determine whether or not an operation could be undertaken. I do not expect this to change.

Cruise Missiles

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what authority the UK Government have given the US Government to load cruise missiles on to B-52 bombers at RAF Gloucestershire; and for what purpose.

Geoff Hoon: The use by United States Visiting Forces of United Kingdom bases is a matter for joint decision by HM Government and the US Government at the appropriate time. The deployment of the B-52s to RAF Fairford was part of our continuing contingency preparations and did not represent a decision to take military action.
	I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 1 (Defence, security and international relations) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Defence Equipment

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, by company, the outstanding value of offset obligations imposed and accepted in respect of defence equipment supplied from overseas to the UK.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding details of Industrial Participation (offset) obligations by company in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The total value of extant IP obligations is £5.4 billion of which £2.3 billion remains to be completed.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the benefits of privatising the Defence Export Services Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The future of the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) was considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review in 1998. At that time a number of options were assessed, including privatisation, but it was concluded that the value of DESO support for defence exports stem from its being an integrated part of MOD and, hence, Government.

Freedom of Information

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on releasing information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 relating to unpublished papers concerning the Scott Report and Mr. Gerald James.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 March 2003
	It is Ministry of Defence policy to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 once it enters into force. Requests for personal data will continue to be handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act.

EU Military Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on progress with implementing the Headline Goal to give the European Union the means of carrying out the full range of Petersberg missions; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures are planned to overcome the budgetary problems affecting achievement of the Helsinki goals; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of shortfalls in the military capabilities of the EU member states; what assessment he has made of the prospects for overcoming them; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Helsinki Headline Goal has been broken down into 144 capability targets, of which 104 had been met following the Capabilities Improvement Conference in November 2001. Of the 40 shortfalls about half may be resolved by improved management of existing forces. For the rest, a European Capability Action Plan (ECAP) was launched after the conference, comprising multinational panels tasked with suggesting possible solutions.
	Steady progress has been made with implementing ECAP. The panels are in the process of issuing their final reports. Panel suggestions will be taken forward by Member States on a voluntary basis, with steps being taken to establish "Project Groups" to take these solutions forward. Decisions on defence budgets and priorities within them are matters for individual member states.

EU Military Capabilities

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures have been taken to incorporate the fight against international terrorism within the range of European Security and Defence Policy missions; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) seeks to enable the European Union to deal with the full range of conflict prevention and crisis management missions defined in the Treaty, the "Petersberg Tasks". These missions (humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking) already give ESDP considerable scope to assist in the fight against international terrorism. Further work was commissioned, building on the Declaration of the Seville European Council concerning the contribution of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy, including ESDP, in the fight against terrorism. This includes strengthening arrangements for sharing intelligence, and developing common threat evaluations. We are also supporting, in the framework of the Convention on the Future of Europe and elsewhere, proposals to allow a member state to call on the resources, including military, of other EU members, for civil protection tasks, following a terrorist attack.

Iraq

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many extra body bags his Department has ordered as part of contingency planning for any war against Iraq; how many his Department holds in stock; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Department undertakes routine purchasing of body bags to maintain stock levels. The most recent order, to replenish stocks and provide for contingency requirements, was for a total of 4,040 bags. Deliveries have commenced.
	The Ministry of Defence does not hold a centralised data on the holding of body bags, most of which are held at unit level, with a reserve held by the Defence Storage Distribution Agency and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has received a copy of the pages of the Riegle report published by the US Senate on 25 May 1994, which lists the materials exported to Iraq which could contribute to a biological warfare programme; and if he will seek to establish from the USA what threat these materials provide to troops engaged in warfare with Iraq.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 6 March 2003
	The Ministry of Defence is aware of the Riegle report. We remain concerned that Iraq continues with efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction, as set out in the dossier "Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction" published by the Government last September.

Iraq

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received about the amount of (a) bacillus anthracis, (b) clostridium botulinum, (c) histoplasma capsulatum, (d) brucella melitensis and (e) clostridium perfingens which have been exported from the USA to Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 6 March 2003
	We share information with allies and believe we have a good understanding of the potential threat that may derive from the biological materials, knowledge and technology known to be available to Iraq.

Iraq

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the consequences will be for troops operating in the Iraq area of the Iraq Atomic Energy Commission's possession of (a) E-coli, (b) genetic materials and (c) human and bacterial DNA.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 6 March 2003
	The United Kingdom believes that the possession by Iraq of E-coli, genetic materials or human and bacterial DNA poses less of a hazard than their continuing efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction, as set out in the dossier "Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction" published by the Government last September.

Jaguar Aircraft

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Jaguar combat aircraft (a) have been produced under licence in India and (b) are contracted to be produced under licence in India.

Adam Ingram: I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemptions lb, 3 and 14 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information that relate to information whose disclosure would harm the conduct of international relations or affairs, to commercial confidences of a third party, and to information given in confidence.

Mines

Frank Cook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government has taken to ensure that contracts for overseas work awarded by the US to (a) British private military companies and (b) UK-based subsidiaries of US companies do not include the handling, storage and maintenance of anti-personnel mine stockpiles.

Adam Ingram: The Landmines Act 1998 prohibits certain conduct, including using or possessing an anti-personnel mine, or participating in the acquisition or transfer of an anti-personnel mine, or assisting, encouraging or inducing such conduct. These offences apply to conduct in the United Kingdom and to conduct by United Kingdom nationals elsewhere. Any indication of illegal activity would be a matter for the law enforcement agencies.

Ministerial Directions

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library ministerial directions issued by his Department since 1997.

Geoff Hoon: Yes.

Ordnance

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much ordnance was disposed of in the UK in (a) 2000–01, (b) 2001–02 and (c) 2002–03;
	(2)  what procedure is used by the MOD to dispose of old ordnance; and where it is disposed of.

Adam Ingram: Out of shelf life ordnance, or that for which no market can be found, is destroyed by the Ministry of Defence under a contract with QinetiQ. Any base materials (i.e. brass cartridge cases) are sold for recycling.
	Disposal by sale of surplus ordnance is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence's Disposal Services Agency (DSA). That which is not sold overseas on a Government to Government basis (or gifted to Jordan under the Al Hussein Project) is disposed of within the United Kingdom or overseas by sale to properly licensed concerns through DSA's Marketing Agreement with Royal Ordnance PLC (now BAE systems).
	Ordnance destroyed is as follows:
	2000
	17,265,342 round of small arms ammunition .22 to 30mm, grenades and mortar bombs.
	102,156 rounds of large calibre e.g. 105mm to 155mm, 4.5 inch ammunition.
	159,995 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Arisings.
	2001:
	5,470,802 rounds of small arms ammunition .22 to 30mm, grenades and mortar bombs.
	60,978 rounds of large calibre e.g. 105mm to 155mm, 4.5 inch ammunition.
	392,930 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Arisings.
	2002:
	1,212,124 rounds of small arms ammunition .22 to 30mm, grenades and mortar bombs.
	241,861 rounds of large calibre e.g. 105mm to 155mm, 4.5 inch ammunition.
	127,851 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Arisings.
	The quantities of ordnance sold via Royal Ordnance PLC are as follows:
	2000:
	7,114,866 rounds of small arms ammunition.
	2001:
	1,228,970 rounds of small arms ammunition.
	2002:
	686,998 rounds of small arms ammunition.

Ordnance

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what redundant (a) weapons and (b) munitions have been sold since 1997; and to whom.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 11 February 2003
	Surplus weapons and munitions sold in the last five years are listed as follows:
	1998–99
	Weapons: Nil
	Munitions:
	9,599,691 rounds to licensed companies—via Royal Ordnance PLC (now BAE SYSTEMS)
	1999–2000
	Weapons:
	Light Gun—Royal Ordnance PLC
	SLRs associated leaning equipment, magazines—FCO (for subsequent gifting to Sierra Leone as part of a wider assistance package)
	Munitions:
	30,626,813 rounds to licensed companies—via Royal Ordnance PLC
	AIM Sidewinder Missiles—MOD Oman
	1,999,931 rounds— FCO (for subsequent gifting to Sierra Leone as part of a wider assistance package)
	2000–01
	Weapons: Nil
	Munitions:
	Exocet missiles and homing heads—Aerospatiale France
	Stingray Warheads—BAE SYSTEMS
	Stingray Torpedoes—Norway
	10,970,167 rounds to licensed companies—Via Royal Ordnance Plc
	2001–02
	Weapons: Nil
	Munitions:
	Mk46 Torpedoes—Raytheon Naval and Marine
	8,738,5149 rounds to licensed companies—Systems via Royal Ordnance Plc
	2002–03
	Weapons: Nil
	Munitions:
	30 mm Aden Ammunition—BAE SYSTEMS
	13,621,235 rounds to licensed companies—via Royal Ordnance Plc
	Note:
	Rounds referred to above were all either 7.62 mm, 5.56 mm or 0.303 mm ammunition.

Minesweepers

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the disposal of minesweeper Pagham.

Adam Ingram: The ex-HMS Pagham was formally gifted by the Ministry of Defence to the Stranraer Sea Cadet Unit on 1 May 1999 having been on loan to the unit since 1978. This decision was made in light of an assessment of the likely receipts from the sale of the vessel on the open market and other relevant factors, including the expenditure incurred by the Stranraer unit on maintaining and improving the vessel during the loan period. Other forms of disposal were not considered to be cost effective. The MOD no longer has any responsibility for the vessel.

Skynet 5

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Skynet 5 Project.

Adam Ingram: Negotiations leading to deal closure on the Skynet 5 PFI programme are nearing completion. We expect contract award to take place shortly.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operational, technical and political benefits are to the UK of acquiring the planned unmanned aerial vehicle system; and if he will make a statement on the system's inter-operability with that of the Israeli Army.

Adam Ingram: The general benefits of the Watchkeeper system, to which I assume my hon. Friend refers, comprising Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, their sensor packages and associated exploitation facilities, were outlined in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence's written statement to the House on 7 February 2003, Official Report, columns 21 -22 WS. We expect to select a single successful Watchkeeper contractor by mid-2004. On interoperability, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth) on 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 312W. This indicated that our primary focus is on interoperability with NATO allies.

Water and Food Rations (Gulf)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the water and food rations for armed service personnel operating in the Gulf region.

Adam Ingram: Land and Air Forces in Theatre are provided with a fresh cooked breakfast and evening meal each day and the United States supplied MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) for lunch. Meals are cooked by military chefs, from field kitchens. Bottled water is supplied through reliable sources within the region, providing six litres of water per person per day. Personnel undertaking training outside the main operating bases are provided with 24 hour Operational Ration Packs. The Naval Forces have sufficient stock embarked to be self-supporting, with resupply available from Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Cabinet Committees

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list Cabinet Committee meetings he has chaired in the last 12 months.

Christopher Leslie: I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement given on 6 February by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on Cabinet Committees. Official Report, column 19WS.

Local Government Finance

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities in Devon have suffered a cut in real terms in central government funding on the basis of the new burdens principle; and if he will define the proposals and initiatives within the principle.

Nick Raynsford: The Local Government Finance Settlement 2003–04 provides all authorities in Devon with an above inflation increase in formula grant. Three authorities in fact receive increases above 10 per cent. Where the Government have provided additional funds to those announced in SR2002 for specific new burdens, such as an extra £21.53 million for the End of Life Vehicles Directive, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has adjusted the 2002–03 baseline to enable a like for like comparison. This means that the above inflation grant increases we have guaranteed to all councils are over and above the extra money councils will be receiving for new burdens
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to the new burdens principle which requires Government Departments to fully fund the extra costs on councils of any new initiative for which they are responsible. We looked with local government in the context of the Spending Review 2002 at the new burdens to be imposed on local government, along with the pressures on council expenditure and the scope for efficiency savings. This year's Settlement takes into account the outcome of that work and is reflected in the general grant increases over the next three years of 5.8 per cent., 4.9 per cent., and 6.9 per cent.
	In addition, there were a number of new burdens on local authorities which could not be finalised at the time of the Spending Review. The following transfers were added to the Local Government Finance Settlement 2003–04:
	Teachers' Pensions £585.908 million
	Concessionary fares £50 million
	End of Life Vehicles Directive £21.530 million
	Enterprise Bill £4.306 million
	Animal Feedstuffs £2.5 million
	Revenue consequence of Supplementary Credit Approvals for detrunked roads £1.444 million.

Rate Support Grant

Alan Hurst: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the rate support grant was in (a) Essex County Council and (b) Braintree District Council in each year from 1990 to 2002.

Nick Raynsford: The amounts of revenue support grant paid to Essex County Council and to Braintree District Council in each financial year from 1990–91 to 2002–03 are given in the table.
	
		Revenue support grant paid to Essex County Council and Braintree District -- £ million
		
			  Essex County Countil Braintree District Council 
		
		
			 1990–91(3)  14.6 
			 1991–92(3)  13.5 
			 1992–93  30.7 
			 1993–94 386.2 2.9 
			 1995–95 442.7 3.8 
			 1995–96(4) 395.3 3.6 
			 1996–97 388.5 3.0 
			 1997–98 406.4 3.3 
			 1998–99(5) 331.0 2.9 
			 1999–2000 339.7 2.8 
			 2000–01 332.1 2.6 
			 2001–02 375.3 3.0 
			 2002–03 348.5 2.5 
		
	
	(3) Between 1990–91 and 1992–93, all revenue support grant for shire areas was paid direct to the collection funds of district councils amounts for individual authorities were not separately identified.
	(4) Responsibility for policing transferred from Essex County Council to Essex Police Authority on 1 April 1995.
	(5) The area covered by Essex County Council was reduced on 1 April 1998, when Southend and Thurrock became unitary authorities
	Note:
	Figures are not necessarily comparable between years due to changes in function and responsibility. The main changes are listed.
	Revenue support grant was not the only general grant paid to each authority by central Government during the period shown in the table. Other grants paid include redistributed non-domestic rates.

Residential Care (Funding)

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the transfer of funding between social services departments when one department chooses to place residents into residential care in the area of another.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	In England, a council should provide social services to those who are assessed under section 47of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 as needing such care services and are considered to be ordinarily resident within that council's area, in accordance with Local Authority Circular 93(7), a copy of which is available in the Library. Once a council has accepted responsibility for a service user, that council should provide and fund the appropriate services whether that service be provided within that council's boundary or outside. There is therefore no requirement to transfer funds between social services departments when one council chooses to place an individual in the area of another council.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Free Fruit Schemes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what recent communication he has had with the organisers of free fruit schemes for schools;
	(2)  what plans he has to increase the take-up of free fruit schemes in British schools;
	(3)  how many schools in the United Kingdom are participating in free fruit schemes.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have made a commitment to introduce a National School Fruit Scheme for four to six-year-olds across England from 2004. The scheme is being introduced through large scale region wide pilots in 2002–03 and 2003–04 with funding from the New Opportunities Fund. The scheme has been introduced in the West Midlands and London and is currently being introduced across the North West.
	The scheme is voluntary for schools but our aim is to encourage all eligible schools to take part. The total number of schools currently participating is currently 4,411; around 88 per cent. of those eligible. This means that around 600,000 children are receiving free fruit each school day.
	The total number of participating schools will increase as the scheme is expanded to new regions. In regions where the scheme has already been introduced, regional five-a-day co-ordinators and school fruit area co-ordinators are working with regional and local colleagues in health and education to encourage take up of the scheme by all eligible schools. The Department of Health has regular communication with the five a day and school fruit co-ordinators.
	There are a number of locally funded projects which provide free fruit to schoolchildren outside the scope of the National School Fruit Scheme in England, although there is no information held centrally on how many schools or children are participating in such schemes.
	As health is a devolved matter the Department of Health has responsibility for England only. However, officials have regular contact with their counterparts working on similar schemes in the devolved Administrations.

ENVIRONMENT

Fish (Pain)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent research she has evaluated concerning whether fish feel pain; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The maintenance of high standards of welfare for all animals including fish is a priority for DEFRA. The FAWC Report on the Welfare of Farmed Fish which was published in September 1996 considered the applicability of the term pain to fish. Since this report was published we are aware of further research on this topic.
	Projects have been conducted at centres of expertise in the Roslin Institute in Scotland as well as in the University of Edinburgh. We are aware of the recent report by the Fisheries Society of the British Isles on Fish Welfare published in 2002 as well as reports from Canadian sources on this important topic of pain in fish.
	While such research suggest fish do not experience pain in the same way as species such as mammals, further detailed research is required before a definitive position can be taken.

Foodstuffs (Labelling/Standards)

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) labelling and (b) standards schemes there are relating to the nature and production of foodstuffs in the UK; and what the requirements are for each.

Hazel Blears: Holding answer 13 March 2003
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Government does not collate information on the number of labelling and standards schemes relating to the nature and production of foodstuffs in the United Kingdom. These schemes fall into two general categories: those based on European legislation (such as that on organic food production), and those more commonly referred to as food assurance schemes, which are largely voluntary.
	Food assurance schemes generally set out certain production standards in areas such as food safety and hygiene, environmental protection, animal welfare and inspections. An independent review of 18 of the main assurance schemes (including those covered by the British Farm Standard denoted by its "red tractor" logo) was carried out for the Food Standards Agency and published in July last year. It contains detailed descriptions of those schemes. Copies of the review will be placed in the Library.

GM Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of two separate GM public debates running concurrently; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Government are sponsoring a public debate on GM issues, which was announced last July, that encompasses a range of different activities. As part of that process, the Food Standards Agency announced that it would be conducting a series of events to independently evaluate consumers' views on the acceptability of GM food and how this relates to consumer choice. These activities will be a contribution to the wider public debate.

GM Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she is taking to ensure the Scottish Executive is involved in the (a) public debate and (b) approval process for GM crops.

Michael Meacher: The Scottish Executive is fully involved in and is contributing to the funding of the Public Debate on GM issues, which is being managed at arms' length from Government by an independent Steering Board. The Steering Board are keeping the Scottish Executive fully informed of their progress.
	Decisions to authorise or not the commercial importation or cultivation of any GM crop will be taken, on a case-by-case basis, by European Union (EU) Member States collectively working with the European Commission in the context of EU Directive 2001/18. In preparing the UK's opinion the Government will seek the views of the Devolved Administrations on all applications.

Meat Imports

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cases of specified risk material have been detected in meat imports into the UK from the EU over the past year.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	Since 1 January 2002, there have been 33 cases where specified risk material has been found in imported meat. Each case has been reported to the veterinary authorities of the Member State of origin for appropriate action to be taken. Of these breaches, one consignment came from France, one from the Netherlands, four from the Republic of Ireland, 11 from Germany and 14 from Spain.

Meat Imports

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she plans to take with regard to meat imports contaminated with specified risk materials.

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.
	On the instructions of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Meat Hygiene Service continues to check at licensed premises every notified consignment of imported carcases beef for any presence of specified risk material (SRM). When SRM is found, the carcases affected are destroyed. The authorities of the exporting country and the European Commission are also informed.
	Further to this, the Chairman of the FSA has discussed the issue with the relevant European Commissioner (Commissioner Byrne). The United Kingdom has also instigated discussions at the European Union Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and at the EU Beef Management Committee. UK officials have also had profitable discussions at technical level with officials from the Member States concerned.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Baroness Amos had on (a) the peace process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (b) the Kimberley diamonds process and (c) conflict prevention measures in the region during her recent visit to Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: During her recent visit to Guinea, Cameroon and Angola, my noble Friend Baroness Amos discussed a range of issues including regional peace and security.
	Discussions did not include the DRC or the Kimberley Process certification scheme for rough diamonds. But Baroness Amos is in regular contact with the key African players and other members of the international community on both issues.

Eurobank

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost is to UK public funds of the resignation of the Attorney-General of the Cayman Islands.

Mike O'Brien: There has been no cost to UK public funds arising from his departure from office.

Eurobank

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet the Leader of Government Business of the Cayman Islands Government to discuss the collapse of the Eurobank case; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: My noble Friend Baroness Amos last met the Leader of Government Business during her visit to the Cayman Islands on 16–17 February. She remains in regular touch with him.

Eurobank

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he plans in the appointment of law officers to overseas territories as a result of (a) the collapse of the Eurobank case and (b) the subsequent resignation of the Attorney-General to the Cayman Islands.

Mike O'Brien: None. However procedures may be re-examined as part of the constitutional review process now under way in most Overseas Territories following up the commitment made in the 1999 White Paper "Britain and the Overseas Territories: Partnership for Progress and Prosperity". Our position remains that it is fundamentally important to protect the independence and impartiality of law officers and the judiciary in the Overseas Territories.

Eurobank

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to review security matters relating to overseas territories as a result of the collapse of the Eurobank case in the Cayman Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: None.

Human Rights

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the human rights situations in (a) Uzbekistan, (b) Turkmenistan, (c) Kyrgmenistan, (d) Algeria, (e) Jordan, (f) Qatar and (g) Pakistan.

Bill Rammell: holding answer of 10 March 2003
	Human rights are at the heart of foreign policy and as such are integrated into policy-making at all levels. The FCO is therefore continually considering the human rights issues in all countries alongside other political, economic and security issues. However the human rights situations in the countries raised are as follows:
	Uzbekistan
	We remain deeply concerned by reports of human right abuses in Uzbekistan. We recognise that the Uzbek Government has made small concessions in addressing the situation, including co-operating with the UN Special Rapporteur for Torture. However, Uzbekistan needs to do much more. We would like to see reform of the criminal justice system, as well as wider recognition of independent human rights groups, religious groups and political parties. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), raised human rights concerns with the Uzbek Ambassador in London on 10 February. We shall continue to press for tangible improvements in Uzbekistan's human rights record. We are also thinking together with the EU how best to handle the human rights situation in Uzbekistan at the next session of the Commission on Human Rights starting in March.
	Turkmenistan:
	We are greatly concerned at the recent developments in Turkmenistan following the reported assassination attempt on President Niyazov last November. We encouraged the EU to make a statement calling on the Turkmen authorities to comply with Turkmenistan's human rights obligations under international law. The EU is also considering how best to handle the human rights situation at the next session of the Commission on Human Rights.
	Through the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) we have sought to establish a fact-finding mission to Turkmenistan to investigate all matters relating to the conduct of the investigations, including detentions, arrests and allegations of torture, as well as the trials, convictions and sentencing procedures. Turkmenistan has however refused to admit any mission of this kind. The OSCE has asked the Turkmen authorities to reconsider. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
	Kyrgyzstan:
	We recognise efforts made by the Kyrgyz Government to improve its human rights situation and to bring about political reform. Positive developments include a presidential decree on 8 January 2003 extending a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. We are however still concerned by cases of harassment of independent media and unofficial Muslim groups. We shall continue to help Kyrgyzstan make improvements, in line with its international obligations and commitments. Algeria:
	We regularly raise our concerns about human rights violations in Algeria with the Algerian Government. We continue to urge the Algerian Government to fully comply with all its obligations under international human rights law, including the investigation of human rights violations, and to allow visits by the UN special rapporteurs on the question of torture and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. The UK with EU partners has also raised its concerns about a number of cases of human rights abuses with the Algerian authorities. The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has offered information on some of these cases, but both we and our EU partners will continue to press for full answers.
	Jordan:
	We welcome the decision by the Jordanian Government to hold general elections in June 2003 (elections were previously postponed from autumn 2002). This decision represents the opportunity for people to exercise their democratic right to vote. We will encourage the Government to hold a free and fair electoral process. We have some concerns about the human rights situation in Jordan including the treatment of religious minorities, honour killings, and freedom of expression. Toujan al-Faisal was a former member of the Jordanian Parliament who was arrested in 2002 in connection with her public criticism of the Government's policies. We welcomed her release following a Royal Pardon in July 2002. We will continue to raise each human rights case as appropriate with the Jordanian Government or in conjunction with EU Partners.
	Qatar:
	Qatar has a good human rights record for a conservative Islamic society with an autocratic system of government. The social and political system is comparatively tolerant and increasingly open. The Amir has the right basic instincts towards human rights issues but recognises that change which could damage the fabric of his tribal people must be handled carefully and will take time. The Amir is encouraging women to play an active part in all walks of life; he has introduced his first steps towards democratic reform; the press exercises some self censorship; freedom of worship is tolerated provided it is discreet; there are plans to build Qatar's first churches; work continues on codifying sharia and civil law but Qataris are still to some extent associated in the Western mind with their Wahabi cousins in Saudi Arabia. Death sentences have been carried out but are extremely rare. There are, however general issues regarding the treatment of third country nationals and minors working in Qatar.
	Pakistan:
	The UK Government welcomed President Musharraf's speech of 12 January 2002 in which he condemned all forms of sectarianism and religious hatred and made the case for a moderate and tolerant Islam. We hope the new government will look carefully at human rights violations in Pakistan. The UK and EU are particularly concerned by sectarian and terrorist violence that has resulted in the deaths of a number of Christians across Pakistan, most recently the vicious attack on 25 December 2002.
	We have concerns about the abuse of the blasphemy laws and are seriously concerned about the imposition of the death penalty for blasphemy. The UK government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. Women's rights issues remain a concern. We hope the new government will keep to the pledge of the out-going government to review the Hudood ordinances on Islamic punishments. We are particularly concerned by so-called "honour" crimes against women, forced marriages, domestic violence, kidnap and rate. We believe much can be done to promote women's rights within the existing Islamic legal framework.

Israel

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning (a) the resettlement of Bedouin in the Negev and (b) the provision of services to Bedouin in the Negev; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Israeli Cabinet will soon vote on a proposal to relocate 70,000 Bedu from the Negev to seven existing settlement areas. I have asked our Embassy in Tel Aviv to raise concerns about the treatment of the Bedu with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We continue to monitor developments closely.
	Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv visited the Bedu Regional Council of the Unrecognised Villages on 18 February as part of our Embassy's continuing dialogue with them. In 2002, our Embassy in Tel Aviv completed a successful advocacy-training programme for Bedu leaders and will shortly fund the construction of an 'environmental' medical centre for several unrecognised villages. The Regional Council has warmly welcomed our interest in, and support for, the Bedu's plight.

North Korea

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the nuclear programmes in (a) Iran and (b) North Korea; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: There has been concern about the nuclear ambitions of both Iran and North Korea for sometime. The IAEA Director-General has recently returned from a fact finding mission to Iran. We await his report to the IAEA Board of Governors.
	On North Korea's programme I refer the hon. Member to the answer given him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Rammell) today UIN 101823.
	We continue to monitor closely developments in both countries.

North Korea

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the threat posed to the United Kingdom by North Korea's nuclear programmes.

Bill Rammell: We assess that North Korea has the technical capacity to manufacture nuclear weapons, and that the volume of plutonium it has diverted from its nuclear programme would be sufficient to make one or two weapons. We also believe that North Korea could flight test a missile with the potential to reach Europe within weeks of a decision to do so. Once such a missile was flight-tested, it would take several years to deploy the missile operationally.
	Assessment of threat is based on both capability and intent. We currently have no evidence of North Korean intent to target the UK.
	We deplore North Korea's recent actions, including the expulsion of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitors from Yongbyon, and the stated intention to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Sudan

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Sudan on the clearances of villages in the oil field area of Southern Sudan.

Bill Rammell: We are in regular contact with the Government of Sudan. The US-led Civilian Protection Monitoring Team (CPMT) has investigated alleged attacks against civilians in Western Upper Nile as part of their normal mandate. At the request of Lt-Gen. Sumbeiywo the CPMT has also investigated alleged violations of the Memorandum of Understanding on cessation of hostilities which was signed at Machakos on 15 October 2002 and extended on 18 November 2002.
	On 4 February the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) signed an addendum which aims to strengthen the MoU. It contains many new and welcome initiatives, including the establishment of a Verification Monitoring Team to investigate alleged violations of the MoU by the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A, to build confidence between the parties and make more unlikely the sorts of outbreaks of fighting which we have seen recently in Western Upper Nile. We are ready to contribute personnel and resources to this operation.

Sudan

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK nationals are employed in the southern oil fields of Sudan.

Bill Rammell: We cannot state with certainty how many UK nationals are in Sudan. UK nationals are not obliged to register at the British Embassy in Khartoum. Of those who have registered 26 state that they work in the oil industry in south Sudan.

Sudan

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had on the progress of peace negotiations in Sudan.

Bill Rammell: The UK role in supporting the peace process is performed jointly by the FCO and DFID. The UK Special Representative for Sudan, Alan Goulty, leads the UK observer delegation at the peace talks. We continually carry out intensive consultations at ministerial and official level with the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army in support of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) peace process. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary most recently met the Sudanese Foreign Minister at UNGA in September 2002.

United Nations Security Council

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his definition is of the phrase material breach as used in United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

Bill Rammell: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in the House on 7 November 2002, Official Report, column. 437,
	"material breach is a term of art familiar in international law"
	and
	"means something significant, some behaviour or pattern of behaviour that is serious".

United Nations Security Council

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government means by the term serious consequences used in the draft resolution on Iraq presented by it, the United States and Spain to the United Nations Security Council on 24th February.

Bill Rammell: As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) stated on 4 March in a written reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Morley and Rothwell (Mr. Challen), Official Report, column 915W, the Council has warned Iraq that it will face serious consequences as a result of its continued violation of its obligations. As the Government have made clear, that means consequences up to and including the use of force.

Zimbabwe

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what applications (a) Mr. Robert Mugabe and (b) other Zimbabweans subject to the EU travel ban have made to visit Europe in the next three months; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are not aware of any such applications.

Zimbabwe

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the members of the Commonwealth troika on Zimbabwe; what assessment he has made of Zimbabwe's position in the Commonwealth following these discussions; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have a regular dialogue with Presidents Mbeki and Obasanjo and Prime Minister Howard about the situation in Zimbabwe. The political, economic and humanitarian situation has further deteriorated since Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth Councils on 18 March 2002. Zimbabwe has made no progress towards meeting the principles of good governance as set out in the Commonwealth's Harare declaration. On that basis, we see no justification for lifting its current suspension from the Commonwealth Councils.

HEALTH

Avian Flu

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what implications for human health avian influenza has.

Hazel Blears: Avian influenza viruses very occasionally infect humans. However, this is a very rare event. An outbreak of avian influenza (strain H5N1) in Hong Kong in 1997 resulted in the death of six people. There was no evidence of human to human spread. In Europe there have been several cases of avian flu without any human consequences. The United Kingdom has plans in place to deal with a pandemic situation should the need arise.

Dietary Advice

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the Government's five-a-day programme for schools is sourced from British fruit and vegetables.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 12 March 2003
	Under the National School Fruit Scheme, which is part of the five a day programme, apples, pears, bananas and satsumas are provided free to children aged four to six. Since the beginning of the current school year, approximately 63 per cent., of apples and 73 per cent., of pears have been of United Kingdom origin.
	The Department is working with a range of partners to maximise the opportunities for UK growers to supply to the scheme, including expanding the range of produce provided to include other types of fruit and vegetables.

Dietary Advice

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to encourage low income groups to increase their consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Hazel Blears: The Government's Five-a-day programme, a NHS Plan commitment, aims to increase access to, and availability and consumption of, fruit and vegetables particularly in low-income groups. Following successful piloting by the Department of Health, the New Opportunities Fund is providing £10 million over the next two years to support 66 local community initiatives led by primary care trusts (PCTs) based in the most deprived areas of England. Evaluation of the initial Department of Health Five-a-day community pilots showed that those who ate less than five a day at baseline increased their intakes by one portion over the course of the study.
	The Five-a-day communications programme will provide clear and consistent messages about Five-a-day, including the benefits of eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day and portion sizes. Work is also in progress with different organisations from across industry, including retailers, producers and caterers, as well as across government and with other agencies, to improve people's access to fruit and vegetables.
	Fully operational by 2004, the National School Fruit Scheme will entitle every child aged four to six in infant schools to a free piece of fruit each school day, as part of a national strategy to improve the diet of children. In addition, local initiatives to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in low-income groups may be found through health action zones, sure start, healthy living centres and other PCTs.

Oldchurch Hospital

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been received about Oldchurch Hospital in the London Borough of Havering in each of the last 10 years.

John Hutton: The Department does not routinely collect statistics on the number of complaints received about hospitals. We do receive letters from hon. Members and from the public in respect of complaints about the National Health Service. However, NHS complaints are best dealt with at local level through the NHS complaints procedure. Therefore, letters received by the Department are transferred to the relevant NHS trust where appropriate.
	In the last four years Ministers have received directly the following numbers of letters of complaint about Oldchurch Hospital.
	
		
			 Year Number of Letters 
		
		
			 2000 56 
			 2001 65 
			 2002 23 
			 2003 15 
		
	
	Information on previous years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Oldchurch Hospital

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on accident and emergency services at Oldchurch Hospital in the London Borough of Havering.

John Hutton: Improving patients' experience of emergency care is essential. In light of this, "Reforming Emergency Care" was launched in October 2001, supported by £118 million investment. It sets a long-term programme of reform supported by extra investment and new capacity to address one of the public's key concerns about the national health service—waiting in accident and emergency (A&E).
	The NHS Plan set the target to reduce by 2004, the maximum time any patient spends in A&E from arrival, transfer or discharge to four hours. Barking and Havering Hospital NHS Trust is continuing to work toward achieving this target.

Joint Working

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to combine the skills of health visitors and social workers.

Jacqui Smith: The Department is investing funds from the new human resources development strategy specific grant to support pilot sites to encourage and facilitate joint working across traditional professional roles. We are working in partnership with employers, across service boundaries, to develop new types of workers at different levels of expertise.
	Our aim is to consider how social care provision can be improved through new ways of delivering services that make the best use of staff skills and have the needs of the service user as their focus.

Chorley Hospital

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget provision has been made for the employment of agency (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) other staff at Chorley Hospital for the next financial year.

Jacqui Smith: There is no specific budget set aside for agency staff at the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust.

Chorley Hospital

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many agency staff have been employed at Chorley Hospital (a) as doctors, (b) as nurses and (c) in other capacities in each of the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: The information available is shown in the tables.
	
		Doctors employed at Chorley Hospital since March 2000
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1 March 2000 to 28 February 2001 83 
			 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002 149 
			 1 March 2002 to 28 February 2003 187 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures are shown as employment episodes. The length of each employment episode varies from a 1 day/night cover to very occasional periods of several months.
	
		Nurses employed at Chorley Hospital since March 2000
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1 March 2000 to 28 February 2001 No records kept 
			 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002 2,831 
			 1 March 2002 to 28 February 2003 4,280 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures shown are for the number of shifts agency nurses have worked. Data is only collected in this manner.
	
		Other staff employed at Chorley Hospital since March 2000
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1 March 2000 to 28 February 2001 No records kept 
			 1 March 2001 to 28 February 2002 4 
			 1 March 2002 to 28 February 2003 13 
		
	
	Note:
	Other staff comprises of staff in the allied health professions and includes physiotherapists, radiographers and occupational therapists. The figures are shown as whole time equivalents.
	Source:
	Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
	In all three categories, and particularly medical staff, the increase of the number of posts is due to major expansion of services since 2001.

Chorley Hospital

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health beds are available at Chorley hospital; and how many were available in each of the last 30 years.

Jacqui Smith: Information on bed numbers is collected at national health service trust level and not by individual hospital site.
	From 1996–97 bed information for each NHS trust is available from the Department of Health website http://www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/

Alcohol-related Illness

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent international studies his Department has conducted into the effects of alcohol-related illnesses and deaths on countries' economies.

Hazel Blears: The Department of Health has conducted no recent international studies on the effects of alcohol-related illnesses and deaths on countries' economies. However, the Cabinet Office strategy unit have looked at the strategies in a number of different countries as part of their work on developing the national alcohol harm reduction strategy.

Audiology

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent to date on audiology modernisation (a) in phase I and (b) in phase II; how much is allocated for completion of the national programme; and how much of the total will (i) be offset by PCT expenditure and (ii) be raised by public/private partnership arrangements.

Jacqui Smith: The Government invested £10.75 million on the first wave of the modernising hearing aid services project and a further £20 million on the second wave. A further £94 million has been allocated to ensure that a modernised service is rolled out to all national health service hearing aid services in England by April 2005. Primary care trusts are expected to contribute 25 per cent. of any additional revenue costs that are incurred through modernisation.
	Involving private hearing aid dispensers in providing NHS digital hearing aids has been tested out in two areas of the country. The trial has been very successful. On this basis, the plans for national roll-out of digital hearing aids will include developing public/private partnerships to boost NHS capacity, and to improve access for patients by providing a service "on the High Street" rather than in the hospital.

Bed Blocking

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to tackle bed blocking in York and North Yorkshire.

Jacqui Smith: The Department of Health has been proactive in a number of areas to help improve the problems arising from delays in patients being discharged from hospitals in York and North Yorkshire.
	In 2002–03 funding of £2.3 million has been available to local authorities in North Yorkshire, through the Building Care Capacity Grant to reduce delay in discharging people from hospital.
	The change agent team has also been engaged to assist the City of York, York Health Services NHS Trust, and the Selby &York Primary Care Trust to review and devise a more strategic approach to ensuring effective patient care, assessment and placement.
	Funding has also been made available to the York and North Yorkshire Councils under the Innovations Fund to help with the assessment processes and intermediate care.
	The Community Care (Delayed Discharges) Bill will also help tackle the problem by making councils responsible for meeting the costs to the national health service of delayed discharges where the councils' interventions could prevent the delay.

Care Homes

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the London Borough of Havering regarding funding for care homes; and what his response has been.

Jacqui Smith: I am not aware of any recent representations from the London Borough of Havering regarding funding for care homes.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 25 February 2003, Official Report, column 514W, to the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham, on the Care Standards Act 2000, if he will place copies of the consultation in the Library.

Jacqui Smith: A copy of the analysis of the responses to the consultation document on amended standards for care homes for older people and adults (18–65) has been placed in the Library.

Children's Servies

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the extent of parental responsibility to register children with (a) local GPs and (b) other health professionals.

John Hutton: holding answer 24 February 2003
	At present patients register with a general practitioner to receive general medical services or with a personal medical services (PMS) pilot provider to receive PMS. In either case the service is provided by a GP or by another health care professional as appropriate. Patients do not, however, register separately with such other health care professionals.
	A registration application may be made on behalf of a child by either parent, or in the absence of both parents, the guardian or other adult person who has the care of the child. Registration is not compulsory but the Government encourage everyone to do so for the benefit of the child, the family and the wider community.

Children's Servies

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of sustainable funding for children's hospices.

Hazel Blears: The funding of hospices is a matter for local discussion and agreement and must be based on local health needs assessment. It is therefore important that hospices engage as much as possible with the health service. The package of care provided should be discussed with the local primary care trust, which is responsible for deciding which health services the local population requires, and ensuring the provision of these services.

Children's Servies

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account the Children's National Services Framework is taking of multi-disciplinary, multi-agency working.

Jacqui Smith: Developing work from the external working groups working on the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services has emphasised the need for multi-disciplinary multi-agency working. This is likely to be reflected in the final document.

Children's Servies

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many children under six have been removed from (a) GP lists and (b) primary care trusts in each year since 1998; and what the reasons were for the removal;
	(2)  how many children under six are receiving only immediate and necessary treatment from GPs or primary care trusts.

John Hutton: A patient may register with a general practitioner to receive general medical services (CMS) or with a personal medical services (PMS) pilot provider to receive PMS. Patients do not register with a primary care trust (PCT) to receive National Health Service treatment unless that PCT is itself a PMS pilot provider.
	Registration is not compulsory but the Government encourages everyone to do so for their own benefit and for that of the wider community. No data are, however, held on the number of people who are not registered with a GP or PMS pilot provider. It is not necessary to register with a GP to receive emergency or immediately necessary treatment and GPs are required to provide this to anyone who needs it at the time they need it.
	Although the Department collects information on the number of patients removed from lists, data are not collected or held on the ages of the patients concerned nor on the reasons for their removal, other than whether there was an act or threat of violence.

Correspondence

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Warrington, North concerning Mrs. Gwatkin of Warrington dated 29 October 2002.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 7 February 2003
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 26 February.

Disabled Children

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the External Working Group on disabled children with special reference to children with palliative care needs;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the task group to review the needs of children with severe disabilities and complex life-limiting or terminal conditions.

Jacqui Smith: The external working group developing national service framework (NSF) standards for the ill child, which includes those with long term conditions, and the external working group on disabled children's services, are by joint working arrangements considering the particular needs of children with complex life-limiting conditions and those who require palliative care.
	Themes that are emerging so far, and likely to be covered, include the need for greater flexibility in service delivery and for multidisciplinary and multi-agency partnership working.
	The "Children's NSF—Emerging Findings" document, to be issued shortly, will give an overview of the areas that are likely to be included in the final NSF.

Drugs

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many registered drug addicts there were in the (a) Leeds, West constituency and (b) the city of Leeds in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement.
	(2)  how many registered drug addicts there are in the (a) Leeds, West constituency and (b) the city of Leeds; how many registered drug addicts in the (i) Leeds, West constituency and (ii) the city of Leeds are receiving (A) rehabilitation and (B) other forms of drug treatment; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Information is not available in the form requested.
	Following the closure of the Home Office Addicts Index in 1997, the regional drug misuse databases (RDMDs) were the main source of information on people presenting to drug treatment services with a drug problem.
	A one off exercise was carried out to estimate the number of drug users in England in contact with drug treatment agencies in 2000–01. Around 2,105 individuals were reported to be in contact with drug treatment agencies in Leeds health authority in 2000–01.
	Information on the numbers of users reported as presenting to drug treatment services for treatment in the Leeds HA is given in the table.
	
		Number of users reported as presenting for treatment for drug misuse in Leeds health authority during the six months periods ending 30 September 1996 to 31 March 2001
		
			 Six month period ending Number 
		
		
			 September 1996 664 
			 March 1997 653 
			 September 1997 498 
			 March 1998 536 
			 September 1998 927 
			 March 1999 895 
			 September 1999 816 
			 March 2000 910 
			 September 2000 746 
			 March 2001 787 
		
	
	Sources
	The Department of Health series of Statistical Bulletins "Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases". Bulletins for the six months ending March 1998 onwards are available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/work public health.htm
	The number of drug misusers in Leeds HA receiving rehabilitation and other forms of treatment in 2000–01 is shown in the table. In addition, drugs misusers usually resident in Leeds may be attending rehabilitation centres (or other forms of treatment) outside the area.
	
		Number of drug misusers in treatment in Leeds HA by type of agency, 2000–01
		
			 Agency Type Number 
		
		
			 Community: Specialist services 1,713 
			 Community : General Practitioners 289 
			 Structured Day programmes 219 
			 Resident rehabilitation 19 
			 Others 85 
			 Total 2,105 
		
	
	Notes
	1. In the case of residential rehabilitation, places are often purchased at a residential centre that may be outside the drug misusers area of residence. In practice some local authority social services departments agree to fund long distance placements with the agreement of the drug misuser so he/she can be removed from the area where they are involved in drug using. This means that in theory drug misusers resident in Leeds may be receiving treatment in rehabilitation centres elsewhere in England.
	2. Following NHS reorganisation in 2002, Leeds health authority became part of West
	Yorkshire Strategic health authority.
	3. Data from the Leeds Drug Action Team shows investment and attendance as 201 additional structured day programmes and 19 placements in residential rehabilitation.
	Source:
	Department of Health Statistical Bulletin—"Statistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases on drug misusers in treatment in England, 2000/01" http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/sbQ133.htm

Drugs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into opioid substitution therapy.

Hazel Blears: The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) is aware that there is well-developed research evidence into the use of opioid substitution therapy— particularly into the effectiveness of oral methadone maintenance treatment. An important part of the NTA role is to support high quality evidence based practice. It is recognised that some findings from the evidence base are not fully implemented and the NTA has built a variety of mechanisms to support the implementation of key research findings into to practice, including briefings, training, commissioning guidance and increasingly performance management systems. The NTA is also working with the Department of Health to develop dissemination of the findings of its current drug treatment research programme. The NTA has recently published a briefing on the advice of its expert group on prescribing, which includes a brief review of the evidence base for opioid treatment.
	Copies have been placed in the Library.
	The NTA will commission new research in line with the outcome of its current priority setting exercise that is awaiting approval by the NTA Board in March. Research bodies will be invited to submit tenders in line with these priorities.

Food Supplements

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he is making to the European Food Standards Agency about ingredients formerly used in foods in the UK but not included in the annexes of the Food Supplement Directive as available for use in the manufacture of food supplements.

Hazel Blears: Lists of permitted vitamins and minerals and their sources in the Annexes to the Food Supplements Directive remain open pending safety assessments of additional substances by the European Union Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) or its successor in the European Food Safety Authority. The Food Standards Agency has written to the European Commission with the aim of facilitating a meeting between United Kingdom stakeholders and representatives of the SCF to discuss the technical content of such dossiers.

Food Supplements

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he will propose an amendment to the EU Food Supplements Directive to permit the sale in the UK of products not listed in the Directive but recognised by the competent UK authorities as safe and which are already on the market in the UK;
	(2)  what (a) representations he has received from and (b) discussions he has held with the Food Standards Agency about the EU Food Directive; and if he will incorporate the Agency's views in proposals he makes for the revision of the Directive.

Hazel Blears: The Government have no plans to seek an amendment to the European Union Food Supplements Directive. They have already secured provisions which enable member states to allow the continued sale of products which do not comply with the compositional requirements up to 31 December 2009, provided certain criteria are met.

Foundation Trusts

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the legal status of foundation trusts.

John Hutton: Our proposals for national health service foundation trusts are set out in "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". Subject to parliamentary approval NHS foundation trusts will be established under provisions to be included in the Health & Social Care (Community Health & Standards) Bill, which was published on 13 March.

Foundation Trusts

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will happen to a foundation hospital if it fails to meet its liabilities.

John Hutton: The Independent Regulator would be able to intervene at national health service foundation trusts if it fails to meet its liabilities. The policy is explained in paragraphs 3.34 to 3.38 of "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". The provisions that apply if an NHS foundation trust fails to meet its liabilities are set out in the Health & Social Care (Community Health & Standards) Bill.

Foundation Trusts

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to allow primary care trusts to become foundation institutions;
	(2)  what plans he has to expand the provision of foundation status beyond the acute healthcare sector.

John Hutton: The policy for applications for national health service foundation trust status is set out in 7.3 of "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how non-executive directors will be appointed to foundation hospital boards.

John Hutton: Non-executive directors will be elected by members of the Board of Governors of the national health service foundation trust. Details of the policy are set out in paragraph 2.33 and 2.34 of "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether trusts applying for foundation status will be obliged to have consulted other acute trusts in their local area before being granted foundation status.

John Hutton: The principles for local consultation by National Health Service foundation trust second stage applicants is set out in paragraph 7.11 of "A Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Illegal Meat Imports

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has with the Home Office, Customs and Excise and DEFRA (a) to prevent and (b) to detect illegally imported meat entering the UK.

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency works closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on issues concerning the illegal import of meat and is assisting these departments as part of a cross-government action plan to improve enforcement and control of illegal imports. The FSA does not have arrangements currently with the Home Office in this area of work.

International Nurses Advice Line

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2003, ref 99682, on the international nurses advice line, if he will break down the calls by the type of caller's query or problem; in how many cases caller's information has been passed to his Department at the caller's request; where callers heard about the advice line; how many repeat callers there were to the line; what the outcome was of problem resolution; and whether calls are recorded.

John Hutton: The types of queries and problems made by callers to the international nurses advice line are not recorded. Issues that cannot be resolved by the call operators are directed to the Department of Health. To date 15 cases have been forwarded to the Department of Health for further assistance and were dealt with either by direct contact with the caller or by putting the caller in contact with the appropriate nursing association. Callers, when asked by operators, had heard of the advice line through various media and these included leaflets, posters and press articles, and through word of mouth.
	Data indicate that there have been three repeat callers to the advice line since its operation. The calls are not recorded but are monitored.

Inventures

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the former Runwell Hospital site in Wickford, Essex has been included in the bulk sale of properties in the Inventures disposal; what (a) price and (b) terms will be secured by its sale; whether it will be sold with planning permission; and how much has been spent on the (i) maintenance and (ii) refurbishment of the site in the last three years.

John Hutton: holding answer 10 March 2003
	This hospital has been included in the portfolios of properties that will form the basis of the proposed real estate partnership with the private sector. Miller/Bank of Scotland have been chosen as preferred partner.
	The price and other terms of the sale are commercially confidential. A planning application for alternative uses has been submitted which Miller/Bank of Scotland will pursue.
	The hospital is not expected to close until 2006–7. In the past three years £1.5 million has been spent upgrading wards to meet fire regulations. A further £1.4 million has been invested in securing a safe and appropriate environment for staff and patients until the site is no longer needed for National Health Service use.

Local Government Grant Formulae

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his Answer of 5 February 2003, Official Report, column 314W, on local government grant formulae, what response he has made to the concerns raised by the Association of London Government in its report "The 2003–04 Local Government Finance Settlement" about the children's formula used in the local government grant formula.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to Sir Robin Wales on 24 February responding to the points raised by the Association of London Government on the 2003–04 Local Government Finance Settlement.
	The current formulae were reviewed openly with local government and there was a public consultation last summer.

Long-term Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of letter E.814/00–01, referred to in paragraph 21 of the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term care.

Jacqui Smith: A copy of the letter E.814/00–01 referred to in paragraph 21 of the Health Service Ombudsman's report on National Health Service funding for long term care has been placed in the Library.

Looked-after Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on looked after children attending (a) private and (b) public boarding schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 12 March 2003, Official Report, col. 297W.

NHS Managers

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many managers recruited from the private sector since 1998 have left the NHS; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many private sector managers have been recruited since 1998 (a) to run central NHS facilities and (b) to work in primary care trusts; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

NHS Managers

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned into the cost of managers to the NHS.

John Hutton: The Department of Health has not commissioned any research into the cost of managers to the national health service.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific financial provision he has made for increase in demand for specialist mental health services following forthcoming military action in the Gulf.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 6 March 2003
	There are no funds specifically earmarked for the provision of additional specialist mental health services following any military action in the Gulf.

Mental Health

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a further statement on the performance rating system in the mental healthcare sector.

John Hutton: In July 2002, mental health trusts received an indicative rating on their performance during 2001–02. Later this year, the Commission for Health Improvement will publish full performance ratings for mental health trusts based on their performance during 2002–03.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adolescent mental health patients have been accommodated in adult mental wards in NHS establishments in the last 12 months; and what percentage of the total number treated this represents.

Jacqui Smith: The following data are taken from the Mental Health Service and Financial Framework Report, 2001–02 outturn, the latest available. There were 64,920 occupied bed days (OBDs) for patients under age 18 on adult psychiatric wards during 2001–02. This represents 36 per cent. of the total number of hospital OBDs (180,642) for that age group on both child and adolescent and adult wards during that year. 82 per cent. of the OBDs of under 18 year olds on adult wards, that is 53,243 out of 64,920, represented patients in the 16–18 age range; only 18 per cent. 11,677, represented those under age 16.

MRI Scans

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting time is for an MRI scan at (a) Airedale NHS Trust and (b) Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not available centrally.

Multiple Sclerosis

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on increasing the availability of beta interferon for MS sufferers in Sutton.

John Hutton: Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust (PCT) has implemented the risk-sharing scheme for drugs for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). All eligible patients are being fully funded. These services are being provided to MS patients in Sutton and Cheam at Atkinson Morley Hospital, which is part of St. George's Healthcare National Health Service Trust.

Muscular Dystrophy

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on his plans to increase the funding spent on research into (a) the treatment and (b) the causes of muscular dystrophy; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the amount of Government funding in 2002–03 for research into (a) the treatment and (b) the causes of muscular dystrophy; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Science and Technology. In 2001–02, the MRC spent an estimated 2 million on muscular dystrophy research. This was an increase on the estimated £1.1 million spent in 2000–01. Figures for 2002–03 are not yet available.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on NHS funding of a growing list of NICE approved treatments.

Hazel Blears: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Dr. Evan Harris) on 12 February 2003, Official Report, column 824W. The cost of implementing appraisal guidance issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has been taken into account in the funding provided to the national health service.

Neurology

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what actions he is taking to reduce waiting lists for neurologists; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Government are reducing maximum waiting times. As part of the NHS Plan, the maximum waiting time for a first outpatient appointment will fall each year from over six months, down to five, four and finally three months by 2005. The Government's eventual objective is to reduce the maximum wait for any stage of treatment to three months. Provided that the Government can recruit the extra staff, and the National Health Service makes the necessary reforms, the Government hopes to achieve this objective by the end of 2008.
	Manpower has been recognised as key to the successful delivery of the NHS Plan and the national service frameworks (NSF). The long term conditions care group workforce team has been set up to support workforce development in the fields of diabetes, renal and long-term conditions. Its aim is to help deliver a multidisciplinary and integrated health and social care workforce to support service improvement.
	With regard to neurology, the care group makes recommendations on workforce numbers across the specialty including doctors and nurses. Recommendations are also made on changes in service delivery models to facilitate the best use of all staff.
	Between September 1997 and March 2002, consultant numbers in neurology increased by 34 per cent.. During the same period, consultant numbers in neurosurgery increased by 21 per cent..
	We are developing a national service framework for long-term conditions, which will have a particular focus on neurological conditions. It is scheduled for publication in 2004, and implementation from 2005. The NSF will help to drive up standards and improve the quality of, and access to, care for people with neurological conditions.

NHS Funding

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS bodies have received direct funding from the Regional Office; and how much was paid to each NHS body, broken down by Directorate of Health and Social Care, in each of the last three years.

John Hutton: holding answer 5 March 2003
	Disclosure of these amounts can be analysed, along with other sources of income, in the income note of a national health service body's accounts. NHS accounts are published locally and are available from the individual NHS body.

NHS Trusts

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the annual performance rating system for NHS trusts (a) is independent from the Government and (b) takes into account hospital specialisation; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Commission for Health Improvement is the independent regulator of national health service performance and is responsible for developing indicators and publishing NHS performance ratings. Ministers continue to select key targets and the priority areas to be covered. In July 2002, specialist NHS trusts received their first performance rating based on performance during 2001–02.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new requirements for entry to the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register have been agreed for implementation by 2005 by health visitor members of the NMC since April 2002.

John Hutton: It is for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to propose, and the Privy Council to determine the requirements for entry to the register. The NMC, which comprises equal numbers of nurse, midwife and health visitor members, is considering in consultation with the professions the parts of the future register and standards required for entry to those.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of respondents to the public consultation on the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register supported direct entry to the proposed third part of the register.

John Hutton: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is an independent statutory body and is required to consult on its proposals for a new register. The NMC has not published a response to its consultation.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the proposed third part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register will allow direct entry for community public healthcare professionals.

John Hutton: The Nursing and Midwifery Council has powers to regulate only the professions of nursing and midwifery.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Nursing and Midwifery Council supports the proposals to expand the third part of the NMC register to include nurses and midwives who work as specialists in community and public health.

John Hutton: The Nursing and Midwifery Council is the body responsible for making proposals in respect of the parts of the register.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will approve a non direct entry proposal for the proposed third part of the NMC Register only as an interim measure until the children's workforce planning group has reported its findings.

John Hutton: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has powers to regulate only the professions of nursing and midwifery. A proposal for a non-direct entry third part of the NMC register will be considered and if appropriate, approved by the Privy Council.
	The NMC will want to consider the implications for the register of any report by the children's workforce planning group when that report is available.

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will amend the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 to allow a three part register that is equitable across the three groups regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

John Hutton: No. The Order allows, if the Council propose it and the Privy Council agree it, for there to be a three part register that is equitable across the three groups regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, each part with a designated title indicative of different qualifications and different kinds of educational training.

Obesity

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce a National Standards Framework to tackle obesity.

Hazel Blears: The Government are not considering a national standards framework (NSF) for obesity. However, action to address obesity is being taken forward through the NSF for coronary heart disease and older people. Action to reduce obesity will be necessary to meet Standard 1 of the NSF for diabetes .
	Following publication of the Government's strategy for sustainable farming and food, the Department of Health is leading on developing a food and health action plan. This will pull together all of the issues on diet and nutrition, which is of direct relevance to the prevention and management of obesity, and promote action at national, regional and local levels.
	Current guidance available to contribute to tackling obesity includes guidance issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on the anti-obesity drugs orlistat and sibutramine, and surgery and a national quality assurance framework for exercise referral systems to promote physical activity. The evidenced-based Five-a-day handbook will support staff in primary care trusts and other organisations to establish community-wide initiatives to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and the Health Development Agency is providing a report setting out the evidence base for the prevention and treatment of overweight people and obesity, and the maintenance of weight loss. Evidence from the local exercise action pilots will also provide guidance for increasing physical activity levels.

Older People (Drug Treatment)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the change from traditional to atypical antipsychotics drugs to treat older people in (a) care homes and (b) hospitals; what assessment he has made of possible over-medication of people using antipsychotic drugs; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Information about the prescribing of antipsychotic drugs is only available in relation to prescriptions dispensed in the community. It is estimated that, in 2001, just under 40 per cent, of antipsychotics dispensed to older people were atypicals, while in April-September 2002 this proportion is estimated to have increased to just over a half. There are likely to be a number of reasons for the move to atypicals. One is that clinicians believe they are better tolerated by patients than traditional antipsychotices. The Government is aware of concern about the possible overuse of antipsychotic drugs for older people A number of steps should help ensure their appropriate use—in particular, implementation of the medicines management supplement of the older people's national service framework and the requirements in the care homes national minimum standards.

Parliamentary Questions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for East Worthing and Shoreham will receive answers to his questions refs (a) 89928, (b) 92551 and (c) 92538.

Jacqui Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the replies that my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave on 26 February 2003, Official Report, column 636W and on 28 February 2003, Official Report, column 779W. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 March 2003, Official Report, column 338–39W.

Patient Choice

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will determine whether a patient in Greater Manchester waiting six months for (a) orthopaedic treatment, (b) ENT treatment or (c) general surgery is eligible to choose an alternative hospital.

John Hutton: Approval has recently been given by the Department of Health to the establishment of a national health service based "CHOICE" pilot scheme. In Greater Manchester, this is to be based around the Greater Manchester Surgical Centre at Trafford General Hospital. When fully up and running in October 2003, the pilot proposes that any patient registered with a general practitioner in Greater Manchester who has been waiting over six months in the specialties of general surgery, ear, nose and throat and orthopaedics for set of procedures will be eligible to choose an alternative treatment centre.

Practice Lists (Child Removal)

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he has taken to prevent GP practices removing children not immunised against MMR from their practice list.

John Hutton: General practitioners should not remove patients from their lists in these circumstances. The General Medical Council has issued guidance—"Duties of a Doctor— Good Medical Practice", which makes it clear that patients should not be removed because of the financial impact of their care or treatment on the practice.
	The Department fully supports that advice. The proposed new general medical services contract which was announced on 21 February is intended not only to provide for a consistently high quality service to patients but also to avoid perverse incentives such as any which might encourage removal of patients from practice lists other than for good reason.

Smoking

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has undertaken into the major health effects of passive smoking in (a) adults, with particular reference to pregnant women and (b) children, with particular reference to babies aged between eight and 12 weeks.

Hazel Blears: The independent Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health concluded in its 1998 Report that:
	Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a cause of lung cancer and, in those with long-term exposure, the increased risk is in the order of 20–30 per cent.
	Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a cause of ischaemic heart diseases and if current published estimates of magnitude of relative risk are validated, such exposures represents a substantial public hazard.
	Smoking in the presence of infants and children is a cause of serious respiratory illness and asthmatic attacks
	Sudden infant death syndrome, the main cause of post-neonatal death in the first year of life, is associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. The association is judged to be one of cause and effect.
	Middle ear disease in children is linked with parental smoking and this association is likely to be causal.
	The independent Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health subsequently re-iterated this view in its 2001 Annual Report. The statement can be found on the following websites:
	www.doh.gov.uk/scoth/index.htm
	http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/doh/tobacco/report.htrn
	No further recent research has been commissioned by the Department into the health effects of passive smoking.

Smoking

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned on the effects of passive smoking in the workplace; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The independent Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health concluded in its 1998 Report that:
	Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a cause of lung cancer and, in those with long term exposure, the increased risk is in the order of 20–30 per cent.
	Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a cause of ischaemic heart diseases and if current published estimates of magnitude of relative risk are validated, such exposures represents a substantial public hazard
	The independent Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health subsequently re-iterated this view in its 2001 Annual Report. The statement can be found on the following websites:
	www.doh.qov.uk/scoth/index.htm
	http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/doh/tobacco/report.htm
	No further recent research has been commissioned by the Department into the health effects of passive smoking.

Smoking

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has carried out into the health implications of passive smoking.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 27 February 2003
	The independent Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health concluded in its 1998 Report that:
	Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a cause of lung cancer and, in those with long-term exposure, the increased risk is in the order of 20–30 per cent.
	Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a cause of ischaemic heart diseases and if current published estimates of magnitude of relative risk are validated, such exposures represents a substantial public hazard.
	Smoking in the presence of infants and children is a cause of serious respiratory illness and asthmatic attacks.
	Sudden infant death syndrome, the main cause of post-neonatal death in the first year of life, is associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. The association is judged to be one of cause and effect.
	Middle ear disease in children is linked with parental smoking and this association is likely to be causal.
	The independent Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health subsequently re-iterated this view in its 2001 Annual Report. The statement can be found on the following websites:
	www.doh.gov.uk/scoth/index.htm
	http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/doh/tobacco/report.htm
	No further recent research has been commissioned by the Department into the health effects of passive smoking.

Smoking

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on (a) smoking in public places and (b) passive smoking.

Hazel Blears: The White Paper, "Smoking Kills" committed the Government to working in partnership with industry to reduce the problem of exposure to passive smoke through voluntary action rather than legislation. It praised the example of the licensed hospitality industry, which agreed, with Government support, the Public Places Charter. The Charter commits signatories to increasing the provision of facilities for non-smokers, improving ventilation and giving customers better information about the level of smoke-free facilities in a given establishment.
	We consider that if we are to ensure protection against passive smoking in public places, we need action nationally and locally both to raise awareness of the risks associated with passive smoking and to increase the prevalence of smoke free environments. The Department of Health will continue to encourage the development of smoke free policies, working with employers and communities.
	At a national level the Department of Health has, since 1998, worked with the hospitality industry to reduce the problem of exposure to passive smoking through the development of a Public Places Charter. An independent evaluation of the Charter is being commissioned, and further work will be considered on the basis of the findings.Locally, the Department is funding tobacco control alliances across England to work in communities to raise awareness and to increase the number of smoke-free environments. Findings from these projects will inform future development of the Department's work in this area.
	The Department of Health will, in addition to action already under way, develop education and information resources to raise awareness and understanding of the risks associated with passive smoking.

Smoking

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to support legislation against smoking in the workplace.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 27 February 2003
	Although the Government do not support legislation to ban smoking in the workplace, existing health and safety legislation, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, places responsibility on employers to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees.
	The Government are giving careful consideration to the Health and Safety Commission's proposals for an Approved Code of Practice on Smoking in the Workplace (ACoP). While consideration of the ACoP continues, other action is being taken to encourage the provision of smoke free areas in public and workplaces.
	We consider that if we are to ensure protection against passive smoking in public places and workplaces, we need action nationally and locally both to raise awareness of the risks associated with passive smoking and to increase the prevalence of smoke free environments. The Department will continue to encourage the development of smoke free policies, working with employers and communities.
	Locally, the Department is funding tobacco control alliances across England to work in communities to raise awareness and to increase the number of smoke free environments. Findings from these projects will inform future development of the Department's work in this area.
	The Department will, in addition to action already under way, develop education and information resources to raise awareness and understanding of the risks associated with passive smoking.

Social Workers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 24 February 2003, Official Report, column 26W, on child protection, when the General Social Care Council is planning to report on the review of the current framework for post-qualifying training for social work; what the parameters of the review conducted by the General Social Care Council into post-qualifying training are; how many social workers hold the post-qualifying award; and if he will make a statement on the implementation by local authority social services departments of the action plan to effect planned developments.

Jacqui Smith: It is the intention that the General Social Care Council's review of the post-qualifying training framework will report their findings and recommendations later in the year. The GSCC intends to consult extensively on the future framework for post-qualifying awards during April and May this year. The scope of the review will include the range and design of qualifications within the framework and the administrative framework to support their delivery. Any statement on how recommendations from the review should be implemented will be made after this.
	The number of social workers in England holding the post-qualifying award, recorded by the GSCC is 1,875. However, this award is just one of a number of post-qualifying awards that can be gained after social workers have become professionally qualified in both generic and specialised areas. It these are taken into account, the total number of awards issued comes to over 9,500.

Social Workers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he will take against local authority social services departments that have been found to have recruited social workers who have not had their qualifications validated with the General Social Care Council; and how many times this has happened in the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: Local authorities, as with any other employer of social care staff, should carry out appropriate checks to ensure that the social workers in their employ are properly qualified for the work they are employed to carry out. In September 2002, the General Social Care Council (GSCC) published codes of practice for social care workers and employers. Code 1 of the employers code requires employers to make sure that only people who have the appropriate knowledge and skills enter the social care work force. The codes are taken into account in the enforcement of National Care Standards.
	All courses in social work are approved by the GSCC, which has been in operation since October 2001. The GSCC is also the awarding body for the Diploma in Social Work and will validate the successful completion of the Diploma programme by an individual. The GSCC also offers an advisory service to employers and internationally qualified social workers, verifying whether or not the qualification is a professional qualification in social work in its country of origin.
	Prior to this date, the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW) was the awarding body for the Diploma in Social Work and offered the same service.
	However, there is no obligation to validate qualifications with the GSCC, or was there previously with the CCETSW, and no action is taken against those who do not use this service.

Tobacco Regulatory Authority

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with other member states of the European Union about establishing a tobacco regulatory authority.

Hazel Blears: Ministers have had no formal discussions to date with other Member States of the European Union about establishing a new tobacco regulatory authority. However, European wide legislation to introduce tighter controls on tobacco products is currently entering into force in Member States.
	The Government believes that much of the work to further regulate tobacco is being addressed through continuing developments under the Directive on the Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco Products. This legislation was transposed into United Kingdom law in December 2002. It lays down maximum yields of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide for cigarettes; requires new larger and starker health warnings on tobacco products and bans the use of terms such as Now tar7 which suggest one tobacco product is less harmful than another.
	Article 11 of this Directive requires the European Commission to evaluate implementation of the Directive. This includes indicating where further review may be necessary in a wide range of tobacco regulatory areas, in the light of developments in scientific and technical knowledge. This could include evaluation of addictive effects of ingredients in tobacco products and methodologies for more realistically assessing the content and emissions of tobacco products. The Commission may also propose amendments to the current Directive. Full details of article 11 are contained in the Department of Health publication "Consultation on regulations implementing EU Directive 2001/37/EC— the Labelling Directive", copies of which are available in the Library.

Unpaid Carers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government is taking to support unpaid carers; what plans he has to bring new funds to (a) help carers and (b) set up better support networks; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Through the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000, carers are entitled to an assessment to determine their needs as carers and eligibility for support. They may also receive cash to purchase the services they need.
	The Carers Grant gives money to local councils to provide short breaks for carers to enable them to continue in their caring role. The grant has been increased annually since its introduction in 1999 from £20 million to £100 million in 2003–04. The Grant will continue until 2006, during which time it will more than double to £185 million to provide extended care and 130,000 further breaks to carers. Increased flexibility in the use of the Grant will allow councils to better support local carers networks.
	In addition the Department of Health makes grants to voluntary organisations to provide information to support carers.

Utting Report

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which recommendations of the Utting Report the Government have implemented in full.

Jacqui Smith: Of the 20 principal recommendations contained in "People Like US—The Report of the Review of the Safeguards for Children Living Away from Home (Utting, 1997)", 11 were for the Government to address. Of these 11, two were rejected, recommendations six and nine, eight have been implemented in full, recommendations one, five, seven, 11, 13, 16, 18, and 19, and one, recommendation 20, was partially implemented. Recommendation 20 relates to the implementation of the remaining recommendations contained in the 1989 Pigot report. These were considered by the interdepartmental report "Speaking Up for Justice" and informed the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, now in the process of implementation.

Waiting Times

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Audit Commission report on the alteration by NHS hospital trusts of figures on waiting times; and which hospitals in the north-west have been accused of altering waiting time lists.

John Hutton: The Audit Commission report "Waiting List Accuracy" was published on Wednesday 5 March. Three trusts were found to be deliberately misreporting their data, this practice is inexcusable, in all of these cases prompt action was taken to investigate and deal with the issues identified. Only one of these trusts is in the north-west, South Manchester University Hospitals National Health Service Trust.

Working Practices

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his definition is of (a) multidisciplinary working and (b) co-terminosity; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: In a health and social care context, multidisciplinary working refers to a number of trained and skilled professionals using and co-ordinating their particular expertise to ensure that people receive the best possible treatment and care. Co-terminosity means the alignment of organisational boundaries between health and social care agencies.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reach a decision on the asylum application of Mr. Hektor Sinani, Ref S1034257/3; and where the papers relating to Mr. Sinani's application are located.

Beverley Hughes: Hektor Sinani's asylum claim was refused on 17 April 2000, and the subsequent appeal was dismissed on 13 March 2001. Mr. Sinani's papers are at Eaton House to consider further applications on the basis of his marriage and Human Rights grounds. These applications will be resolved within the next two weeks.

Asylum Seekers

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to deport failed asylum seekers to Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: This position has not changed since my answer on 3 December 2002, Official Report, column 714W.

Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2003, Official Report, column 321W, what steps he is taking to monitor the effectiveness of the provisions cited in his answer in helping the UK to meet its obligations under the Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention.

David Blunkett: Further to my answer of 5 February, statistical information on use of the powers under sections 113 and 114 of the Anti Terrorism Crime and Security Act 2001 (ATCS) is collected regularly. The powers have been used in respect of two juveniles, detained on hoaxing charges and released on bail pending trial.
	As a result of investigations in London, four people have been charged under section 2 of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996. In a subsequent investigation five other people have been charged under section 1 (1) of the Criminal Law Act 1967 with conspiracy to produce or develop chemical weapons. The protective security arrangements surrounding the security of pathogens and toxins under part 7 of the ATCS are being taken forward as part of the implementation of the Act.

Capita

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department expects to pay to Capita for work carried out for his Department (a) in 2003 and (b) 2002.

David Blunkett: The forecasted payments by the Home Department to Capita for work carried out in 2002 and 2003 are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Expenditure (£) 
		
		
			 2002 32,214,095.35 
			 2003 65,509,238.61

Correspondence

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East of 11 October and 25 November 2002 and 8 January 2003 regarding the case of Mr. Uones Mahmad Nizar (HO Ref N1030237).

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 13 March 2003.

Correspondence

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Bolton, South East of 12 September 2002, 29 October 2002, 4 December 2002 and 8 January 2003 regarding the case of Mr. Mohammed Iqbal (HO Ref J243444).

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to my hon. Friend on 13 March 2003.

Correspondence

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to a letter from the hon. Member for Vauxhall dated 21 November 2002 about a constituent, reference number D1066307.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to my hon. Friend on 7 March 2003.

Court Escapees

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people found guilty of a criminal offence escaped from court last year; and of these, how many failed to be recaptured.

Hilary Benn: Information received from the Prisoner Escort and Custody Service shows that 34 persons escaped from courts in England and Wales in 2002, but information held centrally does not identify whether these persons were convicted or whether a recapture took place. As this information will need to be collated I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the information is available. In addition, a further 21 persons escaped but were recaptured within 15 minutes.

Guildford/Birmingham Bombings

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in securing convictions against those responsible for the bombs in (a) Guildford on 5 October 1974 and (b) Birmingham on 21 November 1974.

David Blunkett: The cases remain open. Should any new evidence or information come to the attention of the police service, it will, of course, be investigated fully.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to ensure that all persons employed by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate are either UK citizens or have valid work permits.

Beverley Hughes: All candidates who apply to work for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) must meet the required eligibility criteria which is set out on each recruitment campaign. For administrative and executive grades candidates must be a British or Commonwealth citizen or a national of a state within the EU with no time limit on their stay in the UK. They should also have normally lived in the UK continuously for the previous three years. For Immigration Service grades candidates must be a UK national with five years residence in the UK.
	When a candidate applies for a recruitment campaign their application form is checked to ensure they fulfil the relevant nationality criteria. If they are successful in reaching the interview stage they are then required to produce either a birth certificate or UK, EU or Commonwealth passport. These documents are photocopied and any passport other than a UK or EU document is checked to ensure that the holder has Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. This means that anyone who is declared successful at interview does not have any restrictions attached to their stay in this country and is allowed to work here.
	Prior to offering a start date to any candidate successful on a recruitment scheme enquiries are conducted into suitability for employment. These include security checks, inquiries into health and taking up employment or academic references and personal references. Only when we are content that all inquiries have been completed satisfactorily, will an offer of employment be made.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, broken down by grade.

Beverley Hughes: The information is as follows:
	
		Directorate: Totals sheet— As at 1 February 2003
		
			 Substantive grades Head count of full and part-time staff 
		
		
			 Senior civil servants 20 
			 Grade 6 39 
			 Grade 7 173 
			 Inspectors 145 
			 Senior executive officer 319 
			 Higher executive officer D 7 
			 Higher executive officer 976 
			 Chief immigration officer 631 
			 Immigration officer 3,127 
			 Executive officer 2,177 
			 Administration officer 2,475 
			 Assistant immigration officer 624 
			 Administration assistant 1,454 
			 Chief typing manager 1 
			 Typist 29 
			 Personal secretary 71 
			 Support grades 347 
			 Industrial 23 
			 Total 12,638

Lili Lin

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the case of Lili Lin.

Beverley Hughes: Ms Lin was due to be removed from the United Kingdom on 6 March 2003. Ms Lin has since submitted a further application to remain in the United Kingdom. She will not be removed while this application is under consideration.

Motorised Scooters

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are available to (a) the police and (b) local authorities to tackle problems caused by motorised scooters using pavements.

Bob Ainsworth: I understand that caselaw confirms that riding a motorised scooter on a pavement is an offence under section 72 of the Highways Act 1835 the maximum penalty for which is a fine not exceeding Level 2 on the standard scale. The police will take action as they consider appropriate locally in each case to enforce the law. Where the offender is a child the police can warn him and advise his parents as necessary. Local authorities have no power to deal with the specific problem. They can make byelaws prohibiting the use of motorised scooters in particular areas.

Parliamentary Questions

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 10 March, ref 96152, if he will reply to the second part of the hon. Member's question.

Beverley Hughes: I apologise for the delay in responding. At the time your letter was received in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) the file was in transit within the IND estate. As a result your letter could not be immediately linked to the file and responded to.

Smallpox Vaccinations

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with the Secretary of State for Health about the availability to the general public of smallpox vaccinations.

David Blunkett: holding answer 7 March 2003
	I hold regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues. This is an integral part of the routine process of government but it is not Government policy to disclose details of specific conversations. Discussions between Cabinet colleagues fall under Exemption 2 in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, which covers Internal Discussion and Advice.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burundi

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) timescale and (b) process are for the release of her Department's pledged funds to Burundi; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: At the most recent Donors Roundtable Meeting on Burundi held in Geneva last November 2002 we reconfirmed that although the UK would not become a substantial bilateral donor to Burundi we would play our part in support of others, particularly the multilateral agencies. This includes continuing our existing bilateral assistance (mainly humanitarian assistance, work with the media, HIV/AIDS prevention and peace building). We also agreed to consider an additional contribution of US$1 million to the World Bank Multilateral Debt Trust Fund. We are in the process of releasing these funds to the World bank. Our total support to Burundi in the current financial year will be some £2.2 million.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department is doing to promote peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Clare Short: I have been closely involved in supporting the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition DFID has provided support to a number of peace-building initiatives in support of the Lusaka and Pretoria agreements. We have committed $25 million to the $330 million World Bank Multi-Country Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme for the Great Lakes region. We are assisting the UN's peacekeeping interventions through support to Radio Okapi, the MONUC linked radio station in the DRC. We have supported community based peace-building projects managed by the Christian Aid and CAFOD in Eastern DRC, and provided funds for the peace-building work of Life and Peace Institute and International Alert. We have also provided some limited technical assistance to the office of the Facilitator in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue.

Empowering Women

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much development aid was paid by her Department to schemes aimed at empowering women in (a) 1998, (b) 2000 and (c) 2002; and if she will list the projects concerned.

Clare Short: Because women make up 70 per cent. of the world's poor DFID puts women's empowerment at the heart of its work, actively pursuing it in the mainstream of all development activities. It begins with girls' access to basic education and completion of primary schooling; support for civil society organisations that represent women's needs and advocate for women in decision-making roles; and education of the whole community about the rights of women and girls.
	DFID expenditure on support including women's empowerment and gender equality as a principal or significant objective is available by financial year:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1998–99 26.4 
			 1999–2000 56.9 
			 2000–01 90.7 
			 2001–02 166.9 
		
	
	A project list cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Global Health Fund

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  if she will list the sources of money allocated to the Global Health Fund; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions her Department has had with other international donors regarding the shortfall of the $10 billion a year required by the Global Health Fund; and if she will make a statement.

Clare Short: The primary role of the fund is to provide drugs and commodities for the prevention and treatment of AIDS, TB and Malaria. DFID have pledged $200 million over five years to the fund, $80 million of which has been disbursed. In addition DFID have committed over £1.5 billion since 1997 to support the development of health systems in poorer countries. Strengthening such systems is vital if drugs are to be safely and sustainably supplied to the poor. Wherever possible the Global Fund should be providing support behind strategies that help deliver sustainable improvements in health care. The fund has strong founding principles in this regard, but performance to date in this regard has been mixed. Our future support for the Global Fund will depend on its effectiveness. It is one of several possible instruments designed to improve basic health care in poor countries.
	Sources of money allocated to the Global Fund can be found on its website: www.globalfundatm.org/contribute.html
	My Department is in frequent contact with other international donors and has repeatedly stressed the need for others to make multi year funding pledges to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria as DFID has done.
	The figure of US $7–10 billion per annum is a UNAIDS estimate of the total additional resources required to tackle HIV/AIDS. As Kofi Annan has made clear it is not a target for the fund.

Overseas Aid

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid the British Government has disbursed (a) in each of the last two years and (b) so far this year to (i) Uganda, (ii) Rwanda and (iii) the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Clare Short: In each of the last two financial years, the British Government have distributed aid to Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Total UK expenditure for each country, including the estimates for 2002–03, is as follows. As the hon. Gentleman will know, long-term expenditure in DRC is confined to humanitarian and conflict resolution interventions. Development is impossible without the establishment of peace and legitimate government. We are pressing President Kabila to agree to the installation of the Transitional government so that debt relief can be agreed and reconstruction can begin.
	
		
			 Country/year £ million 
		
		
			 Uganda  
			 2000–01 97,572 
			 2001–02 68,724 
			 2002–03 Estimate 62,500 
			   
			 Rwanda  
			 2000–01 32,878 
			 2001–02 27,189 
			 2002–03 Estimate 35,800 
			   
			 DRC  
			 2000–01 6,752 
			 2001–02 10,262 
			 2002–03 Estimate 14,500

South America

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much development aid was paid to the South American continent in (a) 1998, (b) 2000 and (c) 2002; and which country was the main receiver of this aid in each of those years.

Clare Short: DFID's statistics are available by financial year only. The latest year available is 2001–02. EC statistics are by calendar year.
	
		
			 Financial year UK bilateral assistance to South America(£ million). Includes DFID programmes, CDC investments and debt relief Largest financial recipient of UK bilateral assistance in South America DFID share of EC assistance to South America (£ million) Largest financial recipient of EC assistance in South America 
		
		
			 1997–98 52.406 Bolivia 12.6 (1997) Bolivia (1997) 
			 1999–2000 75.355 Bolivia 20.5 (1999) Peru (1999) 
			 2001–02 51.238 Bolivia 38.4 (2001) Argentina (2001)

LORD CHANCELLOR

Correspondence

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the hon. Member for Richmond Park will receive a reply to her letter of 14 January 2002 regarding the Pedler Family Judicial Trustee case.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor replied personally to Dr. Tonge's letter of 14 January 2002 on 28 April 2002.

Abducted Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps have recently been taken by her Department to provide and improve statistics of cases of child abduction.

Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 7 January 2003, Official Report, column 66W. I would only add that the statistical information collected by the Child Abduction Unit is submitted to the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference annually for publication on their website.

Abducted Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department 
	(1)  what steps are taken by her Department to help parents with abducted children to gain access to their children held abroad;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of her Department's compliance with the recommendations established in Article 21 of the Hague Convention when advising parents who have had their children abducted to make an application for access; how those applications are handled; and what support is provided by her Department to ensure that the applications are successful.

Rosie Winterton: Article 21 of the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention allows applications via the designated Central Authorities for arrangements to secure effective exercise of rights of access. The primary remedy, however, is the return of the child, and applications under Article 21 will generally be deferred until the return application is concluded. I am satisfied that the Child Abduction Unit discharges its functions on behalf of the Lord Chancellor as Central Authority for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in compliance with the requirements of the 1980 Hague Convention. The Child Abduction Unit ensures that all parents who have not obtained the child's return under the return provisions of the Convention, are advised of the possibility of seeking access through Article 21 of the Convention. The Unit will transmit any application made, whether for return of the child or for access rights, to its counterpart in the other country, monitor the case, liaise with all interested parties and assist as necessary. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will also provide appropriate consular assistance. The decision on any application is a matter for the court to which the application is addressed.

Magistrates Courts

Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what progress has been made in attaining performance targets for the collection of outstanding fines imposed by magistrates courts.

Yvette Cooper: Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) have responsibility for the collection of a range of debts imposed through the courts, including not only fines but also fees, compensation, confiscation orders, legal aid contributions and some maintenance orders.
	The table sets out the latest figures for the payment rate for individual MCCs. Fine enforcement performance is too low and the variations are too wide and unacceptable ranging from over 80 per cent. to under 40 per cent.
	MCCs set their own targets for improvement when they bid for a share of £9 million extra investment (netting off) for the financial year 2002–03. The aggregate of the local targets was an increase in fines collected of 7 per cent. The Government set out a target national performance level of 68 per cent. in the payment rate by end of March 2003.
	The payment rate currently includes confiscation orders as well as fines, so individual areas can see their figures distorted by high confiscation orders imposed in one quarter and collected at a later date.
	Some MCCs have demonstrated significant improvements in performance: Avon and Somerset (from 54 per cent. to 73 per cent.), Gloucestershire (from 42 per cent. to 73 per cent.) and South Wales (from 39 per cent. to 50 per cent.). Others have seen performance fall, such as GLMCA, which has deteriorated from 46 per cent. to 38 per cent.
	The total amount of money collected in the 12 months to December 2002 has increased by £2.3 million (or 1 per cent.) compared to previous year. However the total new amount owed has increased by 6.9 per cent. The current rolling year payment rate is 56 per cent. compared to 59 per cent. a year ago. Excluding the Greater London Magistrates' Courts' Authority the payment rate is 62 per cent.
	Fine enforcement performance is too low and the current variations in performance are unacceptable. That is why the Government have introduced a major program of work to tackle fine enforcement.
	Funded pilots of different approaches to fine enforcement showing significant increases in enforcement.
	Poorly performing MCCs must draw up action plans incorporating findings of the research in order to qualify for their share of next years funding.
	Extra investment in fine enforcement of £9 million in current year rising to £18 million next year.
	Introducing a unified courts administration with stronger management systems for tackling poor performance as part of the Courts Bill.
	Vehicle clamping of defaulters, discount for prompt payment and increases if the offender fails to pay on time, registering the debt with the registry of judgments to prevent defaulters from getting credit as part of the Courts Bill.
	Increasing support and advice for those who cannot pay as well as developing alternative sentence options in the community.
	
		Debt analysis—Rolling year: January 2002 to December 2002
		
			  Amount imposed total (£) Amount paid total  (£) Payment rate indicator (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 10,719,413 6,173,809 73 
			 Bedfordshire 3,220,859 2,415,461 59 
			 Cambridgeshire 4,454,102 3,466,611 33 
			 Cheshire 5,876,836 3,502,782 56 
			 Cleveland 3,259,970 1,882,948 50 
			 Cumbria 3,952,757 2,683,011 76 
			 Derbyshire 7,054,261 4,297,097 57 
			 Devon and Cornwall 10,021,264 5,391,963 63 
			 Dorset 3,341,820 2,488,518 75 
			 Durham 3,694,282 2,864,660 73 
			 Dyfed Powys 2,624,932 1,892,384 71 
			 Essex 10,111,948 8,149,513 75 
			 Gloucestershire 2,200,862 2,404,712 73 
			 Greater London 63,701,896 40,166,205 38 
			 Greater Manchester 22,135,048 14,473,929 65 
			 Gwent 4,074,201 2,866,675 63 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 7,595,592 7,413,125 76 
			 Hertfordshire 5,456,665 4,262,381 67 
			 Humberside 4,659,538 3,800,992 71 
			 Kent 11,381,351 5,825,408 62 
			 Lancashire 12,583,526 6,998,720 66 
			 Leicestershire 7,018,052 5,083,050 75 
			 Lincolnshire 5,460,427 2,749,453 62 
			 Merseyside 7,901,028 4,177,037 32 
			 Norfolk 3,431,075 2,650,102 76 
			 North Wales 5,389,241 2,790,064 61 
			 North Yorkshire 2,838,382 2,442,514 80 
			 Northamptonshire 7,889,295 3,495,245 57 
			 Northumbria 7,415,623 5.200,127 60 
			 Nottinghamshire 5,746,751 4,519,728 64 
			 South Wales 8,721,806 4,805,327 50 
			 South Yorkshire 7,918,784 5,288,728 60 
			 Staffordshire 7,330,713 4,279,018 68 
			 Suffolk 3,256,469 2,377,724 66 
			 Surrey 7,044,726 4,478,625 79 
			 Sussex 8,229,910 3,944,435 60 
			 Thames Valley 10,318,717 7,323,217 75 
			 Warwickshire 4,127,276 2,631,531 85 
			 West Mercia 6,128,518 4,640,320 72 
			 West Midlands 21,847,735 12,268,003 53 
			 West Yorkshire 11,758,544 8,448,270 54 
			 Wiltshire 4,802,573 3,588,043 74 
			 England and Wales 356,696,768 230,601,465 56 
		
	
	Note:
	The payment rate also includes the net amount transferred in which over this rolling year was £54 million

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much has been spent, in each year from 1 May 1997 to date, on the Lord Chancellor's personal travel arrangements on official business, broken down by (a) provision and running costs of vehicular transport, (b) first class travel by rail, (c) standard class travel by rail, (d) first class travel by air, (e) club or equivalent class travel by air and (f) economy class travel by air.

Rosie Winterton: The information available without disproportional cost is as follows: the table sets out departmental expenditure on all ministerial car use since 1 May 1997 (the number of Ministers in the Department increased from two to three during 1999–2000; and from three to four during 2000–01). For other travel, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1 May 1997–98 * 
			 1998–99 * 
			 1999–2000 172 
			 2000–01 216 
			 2001–02 271 
			 2002–31 January 2003 216 
		
	
	* Reliable data not available without disproportionate cost

Overseas Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in 2002; and what the (a) purpose and (b) cost of each trip was.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) on 22 January 2003, Official Report, column 334W.

PRIME MINISTER

Gifts

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list gifts received by Ministers in the last 12 months.

Tony Blair: I have today published a list of gifts received by Ministers. The list provides details of gifts received since June 2001 valued at more than £140. Copies of the list have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

GM Technology

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions since June 2001 when he has received representations from the US administration in favour of GM technology; and when he last discussed the issue with President Bush.

Tony Blair: I have received no representations from the US administration in favour of GM technology. However, I have regular discussions with President Bush on a wide range of issues, including agriculture. The Government and representatives of the US administration are in regular contact and have exchanged views on GM issues.

Iraq

William Cash: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the legal basis for military intervention against Iraq.

Tony Blair: There is a longstanding convention, followed by successive Governments and reflected in the ministerial code, that legal advice to the Government remains confidential. This enables Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence, as everyone else can.
	We always act in accordance with international law. At the appropriate time the Government would of course explain the legal basis for any military action that
	may be necessary.

Iraq

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if he has consulted previous prime ministers to secure their consent to commit British forces to battle in Iraq.

Tony Blair: No decision to launch military action against Iraq has been taken.

Iraq

Steve Webb: To ask the Prime Minister how many Christian Aid postcards urging action on Middle East peace and a peaceful resolution to the Iraq crisis he has received at Downing Street.

Tony Blair: The Government have received over 45,000 postcards since the campaign began. The Foreign Secretary will be writing to Christian Aid, and will ask that the letter is placed on their website so that people can read it.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the US Government concerning the exploitation of Iraqi oil following a conflict which leads to regime change;
	(2)  what (a) discussions he has held with and (b) representations he has received from multinational oil companies concerning the exploitation of Iraqi oil following any conflict in the Middle East;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues concerning the exploitation of Iraqi oil following any conflict in the Middle East.

Tony Blair: No decision to launch military action against Iraq has been taken. It is our position that Iraqi oil is owned by the Iraqi people. Its revenues should be used for the good of the people. We make this clear in all our contacts on the subject.
	However, the current situation is not about oil, it is about weapons of mass destruction and the Iraqi regime deliberately flouting the will of the United Nations.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Auditing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to restrict the number of quoted companies which a single audit firm can audit at the same time.

Melanie Johnson: We have no plans to do so.

Auditing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the auditors of the public bodies sponsored by her Department.

Melanie Johnson: The auditors in 2001/2002 of the public bodies sponsored by DTI are listed in the Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies 2002. The same auditors will be used in 2002–2003.

Auditing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will require the Auditing Practices Board to hold public hearings before setting any auditing standard.

Melanie Johnson: No. The Report of the Review of the Regulatory Regime of the Accountancy Profession, published on 29 January, recommended that the Financial Reporting Council, of which the Auditing Practices Board (APB) is a subsidiary body, should improve arrangements for transparency including ensuring easy access to clear information about the purpose of the organisation, its place in the regulatory framework and its work programme and performance, and that this should extend to the publication of summary board minutes and papers. The APB already publishes the minutes of its meetings.

Auditing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will require UK companies to disclose reasons for setting up operation in offshore financial centres whose laws do not require them to publish audited accounts.

Melanie Johnson: I have no plans to do so. Companies are required to consolidate the activities of such vehicles in the UK parent's audited accounts if they are subsidiary undertakings.

Auditing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to give audit committees of companies full access to the working papers of their auditors.

Melanie Johnson: Auditors' conclusions should be shared in full with audit committees and with all company directors. Sir Robert Smith's review of the Combined Code Guidance, published on 20 January, clarifies and expands upon the existing guidance on the audit committee's role in reviewing the work of the auditor throughout the audit cycle. Copies of that report have been placed in the Libraries of the House. I have no plans to introduce a requirement on auditors to disclose all their working papers.

Auditing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to require the auditors of public limited companies to file copies of the audit tender with a designated regulator.

Melanie Johnson: I have no plans to do so.

Auditing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to ban auditing firms from selling off-balance sheet financing schemes to their audit clients.

Melanie Johnson: There are no plans to introduce such a ban. The provision of non-audit services by auditors to their clients is covered in chapter 1 of the Final Report of the Coordinating Group on Audit and Accounting Issues, published on 29 January. Copies of the Report have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Auditing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to give incoming auditors a right of access to the outgoing auditor's working papers.

Melanie Johnson: We have no plans to do so.

Auditing

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will give the Financial Services Authority an unrestrained right of access to the working papers of auditors.

Melanie Johnson: The Financial Services Authority already has powers to obtain information from auditors.

Enron

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what inquiries her Department has made into the UK operations of Enron.

Melanie Johnson: Conduct reports pursuant to the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 have been received from the joint Administrators or joint Liquidators (all PriceWaterhouseCoopers) in Enron Europe Ltd. and 21 other subsidiary companies.
	The Disqualification Unit of The Insolvency Service is making inquiries into those failures from the view-point of disqualification of the directors No decision as to whether disqualification proceedings are warranted has, however, been made.

EU Accountants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many professional accountants there are in each member state of the European Union.

Melanie Johnson: Figures are not available for accountants in general as there is no statutory requirement for them to be registered with a professional body.

Industrial Development Schemes

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many schemes under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 in each of the last six years have covered a specific geographical area within the UK.

Alan Johnson: 14 schemes cover or have covered regional or national areas over the last six years, as follows:
	Regional Enterprise Grant Scheme:
	Regional Innovation Grant Scheme (Wales)—1988 to date
	Regional Investment Grants (Scotland and Wales)—1988 to 1997
	Wales Trade International Trade Promotion Schemes—2001
	Assembly Investment Grant Scheme (Wales)—from 2002
	Rover Task Force: an element of the modernisation and diversification programme (West Midlands)—2001 to date
	One off payment to Atlantic Telecom's Administrators to maintain services for sufficient time to allow customers in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester to switch to alternative suppliers—2001
	Support for redundancy payments at Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd.'s Longannet Colliery—2002 to date
	Support for redundancy payments at UK Coal's Selby Complex, in Yorkshire (subject to negotiation with the European Commission)—from 2003
	Schemes administered by the Small Business Service that are available only in
	England:
	Enterprise Fund—Early Growth Funding, from 2002
	Enterprise Fund—Regional Venture Capital Funds, from 2002
	Enterprise Grant Scheme, from 2000
	Phoenix Fund—Community Development Finance Institutions, Challenge Fund, from 2001
	Phoenix Fund—Community Development Venture Capital Fund, from 2002
	Business Incubation Fund, from 2003

Industrial Development Schemes

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many schemes under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 in Scotland have been funded (a) wholly and (b) partly by her Department.

Alan Johnson: Seven UK wide programmes operating in Scotland over the last six years were funded wholly by my Department, as follows:
	Enterprise Fund—Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
	Enterprise Fund—UK High Technology Fund
	Phoenix Fund—support for Community Development Finance Institutions, Loan Guarantees
	UK Coal Operating Aid Scheme
	New ISERBS—Iron and Steel Re-adaptation Benefit Scheme
	Urban Post Office Reinvention Programme
	Support for redundancy payments at Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd.'s Longannet Colliery
	The Department and the Scottish Executive provided a joint package of support in 2001 to Atlantic Telecom's administrators to maintain a fixed wireless network for sufficient time to allow customers to switch to alternative suppliers.

Industrial Development Schemes

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many schemes in Scotland have been funded under section 8 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 in each of the last six years.

Alan Johnson: The use of Section 8 for schemes in Scotland only is a matter for the Scottish Executive. Eight UK wide schemes available in Scotland have been funded by my Department, or by the former Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, over the last six years. Three other schemes have been funded by the Scottish Executive, one of them jointly with my Department. A number of the schemes were introduced more than six years ago. The schemes or single payments were:
	Small Business Service:
	Enterprise Fund—Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme—1981 to date
	Enterprise Fund—UK High Technology Fund—from 2001
	Phoenix Fund—support for Community Development Finance Institutions, Loan Guarantees—from 2000
	Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions:
	Small Company Environmental and Energy Management Assistance Scheme (SCEEMAS)—1995 to 1999
	Regional Enterprise Grant Scheme:
	Regional Innovation Grants (Scotland)—1988 to 1995
	Regional Investment Grants (Scotland)—1988 to 1997
	UK Coal Operating Aid Scheme—2000–02
	New ISERBS—Iron and Steel Employees Re-adaptation Benefit Scheme—
	2001 to date
	One off payment to Atlantic Telecom Administrators—2001
	Urban Post Office Reinvention Programme—2002 to date
	Support for redundancy payments at Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd.'s Longannet Colliery—2002 to date
	Information about section 8 schemes and payments can be found in the annual reports laid before Parliament as required by the Industrial Development Act 1982. The most recent Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2002 was published on 30 September 2002 and is available in the Library of the House, and on the Stationery Office's website at: http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/deps/hc/hc1007/lQ07.pdf. The Report includes information on the individual section 8 schemes.

Ministerial Meetings

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met representatives of the (a) Trading Standards Institute, (b) Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services, (c) National Consumer Council and (d) National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux; how often she meets each group; if she will make it her policy to place the minutes and agendas in the Library; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State or I have met with Trading Standards Institute, Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services, National Consumer Council and Citizens Advice (including Citizens Advice Scotland) within the last six months.
	Formal meetings with most of these organisations are held on a regular footing to discuss matters of mutual interest. We also meet all of them at key events throughout the year.
	Minutes and agendas of these groups are not placed in the Libraries of the House and I do not intend changing that policy.

Nuclear Industry (Skills Council)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to create a skills council for the nuclear industry.

Brian Wilson: The British Nuclear Industries Forum, the trade association for the nuclear sector, and Cogent, the Sector Skills Council for oil and gas extraction, chemicals manufacture and petroleum, are in discussion about creating Cogent Plus, a Sector Skills Council serving these four sectors plus polymers.
	Like other applications for Sector Skills Council (SSC) status, the application will be subject to approval by the Sector Skills Development Agency, but this initiative has my full support. There are strong synergies between the nuclear sector and the proposed elements of Cogent Plus, and it offers a solid base for ensuring that the skills needed by the sector will be maintained and updated over the long term.
	Assuming Cogent Plus is formally approved as an SSC it will take forward implementation of the recommendations set out in the report on nuclear skills published by the Department last year. These related in particular to the promotion of science and engineering to young people, the provision of support to teachers, the development of national occupational standards, the wider adoption of modern apprenticeship schemes within the nuclear sector and the building of alliances with universities with a view to the development of customised courses and academic centres of excellence capable of servicing the future needs and requirements of the nuclear sector.

Office of Fair Trading

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the OFT's long term target to clear all cases over two years old.

Melanie Johnson: The OFT has set internal targets for dealing with complaints about unfair terms in consumer contracts under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. The National Audit Office notes in its recently published report, 'The Office of Fair Trading: Progress in Protecting Consumers' Interests', that the OFT has increased the size of the team dealing with unfair contract terms and has given senior managers more autonomy in order to speed up its investigations.
	The NAO confirm that the OFT 'is making good progress in reducing the number of cases over two years old'.

Patent Law

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to reform patent law to enhance the rights of inventors in relation to their employers.

Melanie Johnson: The possibility of enhancing the provisions in the Patents Act 1977 on compensation for employee-inventors for inventions of outstanding benefit to the employer was explored in the recent consultation on our proposed Patents Act (Amendment) Bill. We will be developing our plans in the coming months in the light of responses to that consultation.

Political Donations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to propose legislation that will require companies to disclose financial donations in kind to political parties.

Melanie Johnson: There are already such requirements under sections 347A to K and paragraphs 3 to 5 of Schedule 7 to the Companies Act 1985, as amended by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

Public Bodies (Non-auditing Services)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the non-auditing services bought by public bodies sponsored by her Department from their auditors.

Melanie Johnson: The following public bodies sponsored by DTI have bought non-auditing services from their auditors:
	Coal Authority
	Accounting policy and taxation advice.
	National Consumer Council
	Reporting to NAO on compliance with Whole of Government Accounts.
	Preparation of tax computations and returns.
	Reviewing financial information for the Council's Annual Review.
	British Hallmarking Council
	Advice on tax liability DTI Department of Trade and Industry

Rural Pharmacists

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on representations by the Scottish Executive on her policy on rural pharmacists.

Melanie Johnson: The policy on rural pharmacists in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.

US Sarabaness-Oxley Act

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what study she has made of the effect of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002 on British companies operating in the USA; and what representations she has made to US authorities on this issue.

Melanie Johnson: There has been dialogue with the major business representative organisations and with various individual companies on the impact of the US Act on British companies. We have made representations at Ministerial and official levels on all aspects of the Act to the US authorities, and I raised the issue with Senators, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the New York Stock Exchange during a visit to Washington and New York last month. We have also supported the European Commission in their representations to the US on the issue.

TRANSPORT

London Underground

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Central Line to re-open.

John Spellar: I understand that the first services to the eastern part of the line are due to be reintroduced today. London Underground are now working to bring services back to the western part of the line, before extending them to the line as a whole.

Railways

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will list railway vehicles ordered for the railway network and their date for delivery;
	(2)  when Bombardier will deliver their Electrostar trains to South Central;
	(3)  if he will list the orders Bombardier has with British train operating companies.

David Jamieson: The table lists all orders for railway vehicles since 1997, including orders from Bombardier:
	
		
			 TOC Manufacturer Date of order Number of vehicles Status of order 
		
		
			 Anglia Railways Adtranz March 1998 24 Completed 
			 Anglia Railways Bombardier January 2002 8 Completed 
			 Arriva Trains Northern Siemens February 1998 48 Completed 
			 Arriva Trains Northern Siemens May 2000 8 Completed 
			 Arriva Trains Northern Siemens November 2001 8 Delivery to start from July 2003 
			 C2c Adtranz June 1997 184 Completed 
			 C2c Bombardier June 2000 112 Completed 
			 Central Trains Adtranz May 1998 26 Completed 
			 Central Trains Adtranz May 1998 29 Completed 
			 Central Trains Adtranz August 1998 21 Completed 
			 Chiltern Railway Adtranz August 1996 12 Completed 
			 Chiltern Railway Adtranz April 1998 8 Completed 
			 Chiltern Railway Adtranz June 1999 10 Completed 
			 Chiltern Railway Adtranz August 2000 9 Completed 
			 Chiltern Railway Bombardier September 2001 7 Completed 
			 Connex South Eastern Bombardier July 1997 120 Delivery begun 
			 Connex South Eastern Bombardier July 1998 60 Delivery begun 
			 Connex South Eastern Bombardier July 1998 30 Delivery begun 
			 Connex South Eastern Bombardier June 2002 228 Delivery to start From July 2003 
			 Connex South Eastern Bombardier July 2002 180 Delivery to start from July 2004 
			 First Great Eastern Siemens May 2001 84 Delivery to start from April 2003 
			 First Great Western Alstom April 1998 40 Completed 
			 First Great Western Alstom June 1999 30 Delivery begun 
			 First North Western Alstom April 1998 70 Completed 
			 Gatwick Express Alstom January 1998 64 Completed 
			 Midland Mainline Adtranz October 1997 34 Completed 
			 Midland Mainline Adtranz February 2001 10 Completed 
			 Midland Mainline Bombardier January 2002 127 Delivery to start from April 2004 
			 ScotRail Adtranz March 1998 27 Completed 
			 ScotRail Adtranz April 1998 18 Completed 
			 ScotRail Adtranz August 1999 27 Completed 
			 ScotRail Adtranz August 1999 6 Completed 
			 ScotRail Alstom March 1998 120 Completed 
			 South Central Bombardier August 2001 84 Delivery begun 
			 South Central Bombardier August 2001 156 Delivery to begin April 2003 
			 South Central Bombardier March 2002 460 Delivery to begin April 2004 
			 South West Trains Alstom May 1997 120 Delivery begun 
			 South West Trains Adtranz October 2000 16 Completed 
			 South West Trains Siemens April 2001 785 Delivery to begin April 2003 
			 Virgin Cross Country Bombardier December 1998 136 Completed 
			 Virgin Cross Country Bombardier December 1998 216 Delivery begun 
			 Virgin West Coast Alstom February 1999 477 Delivery begun 
		
	
	Delivery of the Electrostars has already started and is expected to be completed in late April 2004.

Railways

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of (a) the inspection regime protocols covering the inspection of motor retaining bolts and brackets on the Waterloo and City Line and the Central Line and (b) protocols covering the withdrawal of Underground trains on safety grounds for each Underground line.

David Jamieson: These matters are currently subject to a full investigation by LUL, with a team chaired by an independent expert and to a separate investigation by the Health and Safety Executive. The investigation results will be made public.

TREASURY

Crown Estate

John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what directions he has given to the Crown Estate Commissioners in respect of application of section 4(1) of the Crown Estate Act, 1961; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: None.

ECOFIN Council

Michael Connarty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held in Luxembourg on 7 March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I attended the ECOFIN meeting on 7 March. In preparation for the Spring Council on 21–22 March, ECOFIN adopted a Presidency Key Issues Paper on the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines and a related Economic Policy Committee report on structural reforms. Ministers also agreed joint reports by the Commission and the Council on pensions systems and on the future of healthcare and care for the elderly. These reports will also be sent to the Spring Council.
	ECOFIN also adopted a report to the Spring Council on strengthening economic policy co-ordination. The report emphasizes the importance of the economic cycle, sustainability, and the quality of public investment and of taking a country-by-country approach to the assessment of member states' compliance with the medium-term close to balance requirement. It is therefore in line with key aspects of the UK's prudent interpretation of the Stabilityand Growth Pact.
	ECOFIN agreed Council Opinions on the Stability Programmes of Portugal and Luxembourg. It also took note of a legislative text on a Recommendation on the voting modalities of the ECB's Governing Council and noted reservations by Finland and the Netherlands. The Council approved a draft statement to be entered in the minutes of the Council at the adoption of the Decision, which confirms that the reform of ECB governance arrangements should not be seen as setting a precedent for other Community institutions.
	The Presidency indicated that they would seek final agreement on the tax package at an additional ECOFIN to be held on 19 March. They also indicated that agreement on energy taxation would be postponed to the ECOFIN on 19 March.ECOFIN adopted a Recommendation on the discharge of the 2001 Community Budget and adopted conclusions on priorities for the 2004 Budget.
	Under any other business, the German delegation indicated that they had presented a proposal to their Parliament to levy VAT on all flights over German airspace. This was noted by other delegations.
	No votes were taken at the meeting.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials from his Department have had with officials from the Department of Health concerning the borrowing limits on NHS foundation trusts.

Paul Boateng: Treasury and Department of Health officials have meetings on a regular basis to discuss matters of mutual interest

Offshore Tax Havens

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent guidelines and guidance have been given to the Inland Revenue by Ministers in respect of transactions between the Inland Revenue and entities which are operating out of offshore tax havens; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken to prevent public assets being transferred to companies based in tax havens.

Paul Boateng: A number of reforms have already been introduced relating to the project management of major procurement exercises.
	The Government are currently reviewing existing guidance on tax aspects of Government procurement to safeguard value for money for Government as a whole.

Public Service Agreements

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Public Service Agreement targets will be reported on as part of the web-based reporting of targets; in what month the first data will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Government plan to introduce web-based reporting from April 2003. This will cover the targets published in Spending Review 2002: Public Service Agreements 2003–06 (Cm 5571).

Sterling Valuation

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) highest and (b) lowest value of the pound has been with respect to (i) the euro and (ii) the dollar in each year that is applicable since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: Data on bilateral exchange rates can be obtained from the Office for National Statistics, or from the Bank of England website.
	The Government do not comment on day-to-day movements in the foreign exchange markets. The Government's objective for the exchange rate remains a stable and competitive pound in the medium term.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Recipients

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of (a) disability living allowance and (b) incapacity benefit there were, broken down by (i) region, (ii) age and (iii) type of disability in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: The information has been placed in the Library.

British Sign Language

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to (a) recognise British Sign Language and (b) improve access to public services for British Sign Language users; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: We have held discussions with various interested organisations, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requires service providers to consider making reasonable adjustments to the way they provide their services so they are accessible to disabled people. The provision of a BSL interpreter could be considered a reasonable adjustment. The DRC's Code of Practice (Rights, Goods, Facilities, Services and Premises) includes examples of situations where providing a BSL interpreter might be a reasonable adjustment.
	The Government have funded projects with the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People and the Royal National Institute for Deaf People to increase the number of BSL interpreters and to improve the infrastructure for interpreter training and assessment.

Disability Living Allowance

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implications of recent developments in paediatric medicine requiring intensive nursing support by parents for the start date of disability living allowance payments for children being discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Developments in paediatric medicine do not alter the rules for the start date of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children being discharged from hospital. For all rates and components of DLA, the qualifying rules must have been satisfied for a period of at least three months before DLA can be paid. Where that qualifying period has been completed, the payment of DLA claimed and awarded while children are in hospital starts when they are discharged to their home address. Payments of DLA are reinstated on discharge for children who were receiving the allowance before they went into hospital for more than 12 weeks.

Employers' Liability

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which organisations were invited to submit evidence to the Review on employers' liability; and which organisations submitted evidence.

Nick Brown: holding answer 11 March 2003
	The following organisations were invited to contribute to the review of employers' liability insurance:
	Association of British Insurers
	Association of Personal Injury Lawyers
	British Chambers of Commerce
	British Insurance Brokers' Association
	Confederation of British Industry
	Engineering Employers Federation
	Federation of Small Businesses
	Forum of Insurance Lawyers
	Forum of Private Business
	Institute of Directors
	Institute of Insurance Brokers
	Lloyd's Non Marine Association
	Trades Union Congress
	A range of trade associations were contacted. In addition all interested stakeholders were invited through the website of the Department for Work and Pensions to submit their views to the review team.
	A list of the organisations that submitted evidence will be made available after the report of the review has been published.

Employers' Liability

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which sources of statistical evidence were used in connection with the review of employers' liability; and if he will publish the statistical evidence presented to the review.

Nick Brown: holding answer 11 March 2003
	A list of the organisations and the statistical evidence they submitted will be made available after the report of the review has been published.

Fairground Safety

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answers of 19 December 2002, Official Report, columns 999–1000W, on fairground safety, when the National Fairground Inspection Team was established; what its terms of reference are; how many members it has; to whom it reports; and what recommendations it has made since its establishment.

Nick Brown: The National Fairground Inspection Team was established in April 2002.
	The terms of reference and purpose of the National Fairground Inspection Team are to provide the operational contribution to the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE's) strategy and workplan for fairground safety. This involves inspection, investigation and other initiatives to address significant risks. It also secures compliance with health and safety law and improves safety management in the industry. The team provides a focus for fairground inspection and ensures continuity of expertise.
	The team is made up of local inspectors from HSE's Field Operations Directorate (FOD) located at HSE offices throughout the country. There are currently 37 inspectors and 12 principal inspectors who are nominated members of the National Fairground Inspection Team. Inspectors are not dedicated full time to the team but carry out their fairgrounds work in a planned way as part of their normal range of work. In addition, the Team may call on specialised disciplines (e.g. mechanical, structural, electrical, medical etc.) within HSE, and use the services of specialist contractors should the need arise.
	The team is directed and coordinated by HSE's Food and Entertainment Sector and reports through the HSE Director Scotland to the Director of Field Operations.
	The National Fairground Inspection Team does not make direct recommendations but provides operational intelligence to inform the HSE strategy and how it can best be taken forward.

Parliamentary Questions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many named day written questions were tabled to the Department between 15 October 2002 and 24 February 2003; how many that received a holding answer were given a substantive answer (a) within three days, (b) within seven days, (c) within 14 days, (d) within 28 days and (e) over 28 days later; and what procedures the Department has in place to monitor performance on answering (i) parliamentary questions and (ii) ministerial letters.

Maria Eagle: 331 questions for answer on a named day were received from 15 October and 24 February. 199 were given holding replies, of which 54 were given substantive replies within three days, 42 within seven days, 69 within 14 days, 19 within 28 days and eight over 28 days. Many of these named day questions sought information of a detailed nature which required further analysis and work by officials in order to provide an answer.
	With regard to monitoring performance of parliamentary questions, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 13 February 2003, Official Report, column 966W.
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to ministerial correspondence. The report for 2001 was published on 24 May 2002, Official Report, column 674W. The report for 2002 will be published in due course.

Pollution

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much has been levied in fines by the Health and Safety Executive against (a) companies, (b) local authorities and (c) individuals with regard to incidences of pollution broken down by the type of pollution incidence, (i) in total, (ii) in each region and (iii) per fine in each year since 1995;
	(2)  what assessment has been made or is planned of the effectiveness of fines levied by the Health and Safety Executive on polluters in preventing (a) further incidences of pollution by the polluters and (b) incidences of pollution from others who have not previously polluted; what changes are planned; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Brown: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not levy fines. When appropriate, HSE brings, or in Scotland recommends, prosecutions so that the courts may consider imposing fines following any conviction.
	Responsibility for regulating environmental pollution does not reside with HSE. The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and HSE have limited statutory responsibility in respect of the environment. Where they do have environmental involvement, HSE's activity is defined by the scope of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. These matters include legislation involving control of major accident hazards, licensing and decommissioning of nuclear reactors, carriage of dangerous goods, notification of new substances, biocidal products, non-agricultural pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
	HSE does have an enforcement role in these areas, and the boundaries between its role and those of the Environment Agency (EA) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), are set out in Memoranda of Understanding. These can be viewed on the HSE's website at www.hse.qov.uk.

Smoking

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice is given to employers about provision of smoke free working and rest areas for employees.

Nick Brown: All employers have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees, and this duty includes any risks arising from passive smoking.
	More specifically, the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require employers to protect non-smokers from discomfort caused by tobacco smoke in rest rooms and rest areas. This means that employers must either provide separate rest rooms/areas for smokers and non smokers or prohibit smoking in rest rooms/areas.
	Free guidance published by HSE provides advice to employers on introducing effective smoking policies in the workplace. The guidance advises that employers must ensure that there are arrangements to protect non-smokers from discomfort caused by tobacco smoke in rest rooms or rest areas.
	The guidance recommends that smoking policies in the workplace should give priority to the needs of non-smokers who do not wish to breathe tobacco smoke.

Smoking

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what policy his Department has adopted on smoking in the workplace.

Nick Brown: In all our businesses, smoking is banned within all public areas and also within open plan working areas.
	Arrangements are made locally on a site by site basis in consultation with staff the procedures for those who smoke. Smoking rooms are provided where space allows.

Smoking

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the introduction of an Approved Code of Practice for smoking in the workplace.

Nick Brown: The Government are currently looking at possible options to reduce the exposure of people to tobacco smoke.
	We will announce our conclusions in due course about how best we will achieve further progress in this area.